And now German animal expressions! Part 1: Farm animals

While my husband, F, and I were coming up with food expressions (see Parts 1, 2..., 3..., 4... + 5), we also realized there are a ton of animal expressions! Thus, my next series of posts on the German language :) Enjoy!

(Photos come courtesy of my awesome 4-cat-owning sister-in-law! Cute furriness!)

1. Let's start with an amusing one :)

• Ziegenbart

(goat beard)

= a goatee :) So, not all that different. Hooray!

"Do I need a trim?"

2. And to continue with goats...

• bockig sein

(to be goat-like/goat-y)

= to be ornery (yeah...I believe goats are often described as being ornery, so that fits too!)

"Why no, I have no desire to move from this pile of neatly folded towels. Now, go away!"

3. and another goat one:

• keinen Bock haben

(to have no goat)

= to have no desire to do something; this is usually the response to a specific invitation or direction to do something; slang (often used by youth + children) (Apparently there's even more history to this and several theories of how this expression developed, but we'll just stick with my current understanding of its current usage for now :) )

"Nope, too tired to move. I'll just stay here forever."

4. Now for some pigs!

• Schwein haben

(to have a pig)

= to be lucky :D

5. pig #2 (built the house of sticks?)

• Saustall

(sow stall)

= essentially the equivalent of calling something a pigsty in the U.S. (although why is it just the female pig in German?)

Must lick + clean!

6. pig #3 (and now for the house of bricks!)

• die Sau rauslassen

(to let the sow out)

= to go all out/go crazy, to party hard

"What? You cannot do this, human? How odd..."

7. Now for some horses

• jemanden auf Trab halten

(to keep someone at a trot)

= to keep someone on task, or keep them busy

8. and ponies

• das Leben ist kein Ponyhof

(Life is no pony stable)

= Life isn't all fun and games (i.e. life is also hard/complicated/etc.)

But is it an Eggo in 'bunny position'?

9. and again...

• Pony

(pony)

= yes...this is the word for a pony but ALSO the word for bangs :)

10. the trend continues

• Pferdeschwanz

(horse tail)

= or 'pony tail', as in human hair tied/bound together, which then hangs loose beneath the tie :)

How about a cat tail instead?

11. Now for a horsey relative

• sturer Esel sein

(to be a stubborn donkey)

= to be stubborn (I think in English the saying is 'to be as stubborn as a mule'..so here it's the male parent of that equine animal)

"Nope, not gonna move. You'll just have to work around me!"

12. And, because who can have enough donkeys? (cheers for Eeyore? :) )

• der Drahtesel

(the wire donkey)

= an amusing name for a bicycle :)

13. And now for the final touch :)

• eierlegende Wollmilchsau

(egg-laying wool-milk-sow)

= essentially the perfect (+ therefore unrealistic) thing -- such as a sow that lays eggs, has wool, gives milk + is ham/bacon :)

Pure kitty bliss :)