English is a language with a remarkable appetite for borrowing. Over centuries it has taken in words from French, Latin, Greek, and dozens of other languages. German, known for its long compound words and precise vocabulary, has gifted English with a surprising number of terms as well. Some of them are obvious and still feel distinctly German. Others have been so thoroughly naturalized that most English speakers would never guess where they originated. Exploring these hidden German words reveals fascinating cultural exchanges and surprising journeys across borders.
A Taste of the German Table
Food and drink are often the first ambassadors of language. When a dish travels, its name frequently travels with it.
One clear example is pretzel, from the German word Brezel. While the snack has ancient origins, possibly linked to early medieval monasteries, its modern form spread through German-speaking regions before arriving in English-speaking countries. Today, pretzels are found in stadiums, bakeries, and even gourmet restaurants, yet their name never lost the trace of its Germanic heritage.
Another delicious borrowing is strudel, from Strudel, meaning “whirlpool” or “eddy.” The name refers to the spiraled layers of pastry that resemble a swirling pattern. A slice of apple strudel on a café menu is more than just a dessert, it is a reminder of Central European baking traditions brought to English tables through immigration and cultural exchange.
Finally, consider lager, from Lagern meaning “to store.” This type of beer is aged for a longer period at cooler temperatures. The brewing technique spread widely in the nineteenth century, carried in part by German immigrants to the United States. Today lager is one of the most widely consumed beers worldwide, but it still carries its German identity right in the label.
Philosophy and the Language of Ideas
The nineteenth century was a time of profound philosophical contributions from German thinkers. Alongside the ideas themselves, many German words slipped into the English lexicon.
One striking example is zeitgeist, literally “spirit of the time.” English speakers use it to describe the dominant mood or defining theme of an era. The Industrial Revolution, jazz-age exuberance, the digital boom, all have had their particular zeitgeist. The word conveys something that its English equivalents never quite capture with the same conciseness. It remains a perfect loanword because it names an elusive yet vital concept.
Another contribution is übermensch, drawn from the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche. In philosophy it carries the weight of Nietzsche’s challenge to overcome traditional morality and aspire to higher forms of existence. In common English usage, the meaning has softened. Today people sometimes use “über” more casually as a prefix suggesting superiority, like “über-cool” or “über-rich,” seldom realizing it grew out of a complex philosophical tradition.
Music and the German Ear
Music is another channel through which German words entered English. German-speaking cultures have a long tradition of musical composition and theory, and many technical terms found their way into English musical vocabulary.
Think of leitmotif, meaning “leading theme.” First coined in musicological writing about Richard Wagner’s operas, it refers to a recurring musical phrase associated with a character, place, or idea. These motifs create emotional consistency and narrative depth. By now the concept has extended beyond music into film and literature, where critics talk about leitmotifs in themes, images, or symbols.
Another familiar term is kindergarten, literally “children’s garden.” Although not directly linked to music, it emerged from German educational reforms that emphasized early childhood education through play and creativity, often in song and artistic expression. The word came with the system itself, adopted in the English-speaking world during the nineteenth century. Today, parents drop off children at kindergarten without reflecting on the German concept planted in their everyday routine.
The World of Science and Psychology
German influence is also strong in science and psychology. The language of academic scholarship in the nineteenth and early twentieth century leaned heavily on German, so it is no surprise that English borrowed terms from that domain.
Consider doppelgänger, literally “double goer.” It refers to a ghostly counterpart or mysterious duplicate of a person. Originally steeped in folklore, the term expanded as German Romantic literature influenced English writers. Today, journalists might describe a political figure’s lookalike as a doppelgänger, often with a tongue-in-cheek tone, showing how folklore entered modern headlines.
Another striking word is angst, from the German term for “fear” or “anxiety.” English has absorbed it with a psychological twist, often used to describe existential dread or emotional turmoil. Teen angst, creative angst, political angst, the word has a compact intensity that ordinary “anxiety” or “fear” cannot quite replicate.
Even gestalt, meaning “form” or “shape,” came from German psychological theory. Gestalt psychology emphasized perception as an integrated whole rather than as separate sensory parts. Today the term applies broadly, with writers and thinkers using it to talk about the overall structure or essence of something, whether in art criticism, design, or team dynamics.
From the Café to the Conversation
Some words entered English not through science or philosophy but simply through cultural curiosity. They often reflect intangible moods or experiences that English speakers found useful to borrow.
A well-loved example is wanderlust, built from wandern (to hike or to wander) and Lust (desire). This word perfectly describes that restless urge to travel and explore. English already had words like “itch” or “longing,” but wanderlust captured a sense of joyous freedom connected to movement and discovery. In a world where global travel became increasingly accessible, the term fit naturally and has flourished ever since.
Another is schadenfreude, literally “harm joy,” which describes the pleasure someone takes in another person’s misfortune. While English likely could have created its own equivalent, the borrowed term captured a complex emotional shade with elegant efficiency. It sounds exotic and slightly mischievous, which may explain why writers and speakers continue to choose it rather than a clumsier English equivalent.
Words That Lost Their German Edge
Not all German loanwords remain exotic or obviously foreign. Some have become so thoroughly embedded that they no longer feel like borrowings at all.
Take rucksack, from the German Rücken (back) and Sack (bag). It simply means a backpack, although in American English “backpack” has largely overtaken it. Still, in many parts of the world, rucksack functions as a perfectly ordinary word.
Or consider nickel, the metal. The name comes indirectly from German miners who encountered ore they thought contained copper but was actually something new. They cursed it as the work of the mischievous spirit “Nickel,” a short form of Nicholas. What miners once muttered as a complaint has become the standard word in English for a common element and even a coin.
Why These Words Stayed
A natural question is why some German words became permanent fixtures in English while others faded. One reason lies in cultural resonance. If a word named something fresh or filled a gap, it stood a better chance of survival. “Zeitgeist,” “wanderlust,” and “doppelgänger” carry shades of meaning that English alternatives struggled to match. Another reason is prestige and influence. Germany played an outsized role in philosophy, psychology, music, and science during key centuries of linguistic exchange, lending its words authority.
There is also the pleasure of sound. Certain German words strike English speakers as pleasingly odd, dramatic, or even slightly humorous. “Schadenfreude” or “angst” both sound foreign enough to catch attention while being simple enough to pronounce. That combination can help a borrowed word thrive.
A Living Vocabulary
The borrowing of German words into English is not just history. Language remains alive, and new borrowings continue, especially through global media, travel, and cultural exchange. English speakers today may pick up contemporary German expressions through popular culture, television, or travel experiences. Some may stick, others will fade, but the process is continuous.
When you order a pretzel, discuss the zeitgeist, or joke about your friend’s doppelgänger, you are participating in this ongoing story of languages mingling. These words carry with them centuries of ideas, flavors, stories, and emotions. They enrich English not just through vocabulary but by reminding us of the interconnectedness of human culture.
Image by Markus Winkler.