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German words that contradict themselves

Kate Müser
January 23, 2017

Put two words together that seem like oxymorons and the result is something that makes sense. These German terms are both entertaining and paradoxical.

https://p.dw.com/p/2VrMJ
Zebras
Image: Colourbox

The German language is famous for its compound words. But sometimes terms are stacked end-to-end even though they don't seem to belong together - at least not at first glance.

A shoe for your hand? Or a mourning celebration? We promise that these self-contradicting German words actually make sense - when you do a double take.

For more language oddities, click through the gallery below for strange German words for body parts (but not while you're eating).