Anyone speak German?

[wvcherrybomb]

Not really book related, but this is the most educated forum I belong to so figured I would ask. Does anyone know what these say?

These are two phrases that won't translate via any internet translator. A local dialect? Both appear on Christmas ornaments purchased at Christmas markets in Germany.

Willsd an, der di ned ärchern koo, nou kaffsder hald an zwedschgermoo

Willsd anne, di ned schimpfd und schreid, dann kaffsd der hald a Zwedschgerweig

Thanks in advance!

[Joy736]

As a neighbour, I speak German pretty good, and that doesn't look like normal everyday German to me.

[wvcherrybomb]

Originally Posted by Joy736

As a neighbour, I speak German pretty good, and that doesn't look like normal everyday German to me.

Thanks, I figured it must not be since it won't translate with any online translator. Do you recognize any of the words?

[HansTWN]

This is not regular German, but rather an attempt to write in a regional dialect from somewhere in Southern Germany. I have tried to translate it into standard German below.

1.)Willst Du Einen der Dich nicht aergern kann, so kaufst Du Dir halt einen (no idea what the last word means!) ---- if you want someone who can't make you angry, then you just buy yourself a ????

2.)Willst Du einen der nicht schimpft und schreit, so kaufst Du Dir halt einen (again, the last word is unintelligable to me) ---- if you want someone who doesn't nag and yell, then just buy yourself a ????

Zwedschge -- could be the word for "Pflaume". That is an educated guess, my mother uses that name for plums, although you never put that in writing, of course.

[jgaiser]

A google search for zwedschgermoo brings up references to plums:

http://frankenpr.de/ein-drahtzieher-...zwedschgermoo/

Google translate:

Traditionally, there is a little man made of plums dried fruits, has a pointy hat and a small belly shop. As time came to "Nackerten" added the Schlotfeger and Zwetschgenweibla, but there are already hundreds of motives. But who invented the funny guy?

[HansTWN]

That is an idea, perhaps the last word in the second line should be "Zwetschgenweib" (b instead of g), i.e. plum woman? But how can you buy a plum woman?

In this case you would have to change my translation from "einen" to "eine", "einen" refers to a male person and "eine" to a female. Perhaps it is some midieval dialect?

[jgaiser]

Plum Man and Plum Women makes sense with your translations:

if you want someone who can't make you angry, then you just buy yourself a plum man

if you want someone who doesn't nag and yell, then just buy yourself a plum woman

[HansTWN]

I think you got it --- the first sentence uses "an", presumably "einen" as the male form, while the second uses "anne", presumably "eine" as the female form. I just suspected both would be the same (some people say something akin to "anne" for "eine"). And "moo" is not that far stretch from "mann" = man

In which case the second phrase should begin with "Willst Du Eine die...", instead of "Willst Du Einen der....".

[Atunah]

Sounds similar to how I would talk. Well back home that is in Bavaria. . Not exactly. Its a rhyme.

And now I am longing for some good Zwetschgenkuchen darn.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by wvcherrybomb

Not really book related, but this is the most educated forum I belong to so figured I would ask. Does anyone know what these say?

These are two phrases that won't translate via any internet translator. A local dialect? Both appear on Christmas ornaments purchased at Christmas markets in Germany.

Willsd an, der di ned ärchern koo, nou kaffsder hald an zwedschgermoo

Willsd anne, di ned schimpfd und schreid, dann kaffsd der hald a Zwedschgerweig

Thanks in advance!

We do have a German language forum (Deutsches Forum). You could try asking your question there in the German Lounge, but you'd probably need to use Google Translate to understand their answers. Maybe not, though, as many German speakers understand English quite well.

Just a thought.

[rogue_librarian]

An answer's been given already, but this is what it boils down to:

If you want want one (male) that doesn't annoy you, treat yourself to a plum man.

If you want one (female) that doesn't nag and yell, buy yourself a plum woman.

Non standard German / dialect, that goes without saying.

[Turnstone]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

That is an idea, perhaps the last word in the second line should be "Zwetschgenweib" (b instead of g), i.e. plum woman? But how can you buy a plum woman?

In those regions of Germany you often find plum man and plum women at souvenir stores, markets and other places.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by Turnstone

In those regions of Germany you often find plum man and plum women at souvenir stores, markets and other places.

I left Germany long ago, but I go back for 2 weeks every year. However, I have never heard of "plum men" and "plum women". What is the story behind that?

[Kumabjorn]

My German is rusty but when I see the word Zwedschge I immediately think prune, dried plums, excellent anti-dote for constipation.

[Turnstone]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

I left Germany long ago, but I go back for 2 weeks every year. However, I have never heard of "plum men" and "plum women". What is the story behind that?

Sorry, can't help you with that. I just know them from the time I lived in Bavaria. I now live in northern Germany, and no plum men around here