- Germany edition
- Change edition:
- France |
- Norway |
- Spain |
- Sweden |
- Switzerland
‘Wutbürger’ named word of the year
Published: 17 Dec 10 16:02 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20101217-31883.html
The German Language Society (GfdS) on Friday crowned Wutbürger, or “enraged citizen,” as the most important German word of 2010. The choice reflected a year in which the angry masses took to the streets in protest of several hot-button issues.
- Christian Democrats set up political donation ATM (17 May 13)
- Au pairs rules relax for non-German families (17 May 13)
- Look-alike prisoner gets cell-mate's release (17 May 13)
It stands for the population’s fury over “political decisions made above their heads,” the GfdS said in their annual announcement.
“Stuttgart 21” and another word associated with protest action, schottern, were chosen to as the second and sixth-place words of the year. The latter means refers to attempts by anti-nuclear protestors to render railroad tracks unusable for nuclear waste transport trains by digging up the railroad bed.
The third place word or phrase was Sarrazin-Gen, or “Sarrazin gene,” an ironic reference to former Bundesbank board member Thilo Sarrazin’s controversial theory that the failure to integrate in German society had a genetic basis.
The fourth and fifth place awards went to two words that reflected the current conflict over the online publication of unauthorised material - Cyberkrieg, or “cyber war,” and Wikileaks.
Seventh place went to Aschewolke or “ash cloud,” in honour of the emissions from an Icelandic volcano that crippled European air traffic early in the year.
The annoying Vuvuzela trumpets made famous at the World Cup in South Africa took eighth place.
The neologism Femitainment, which combines the English words “feminine” and “entertainment,” was chosen as the ninth word for its use to describe in the cat fight between feminist Alice Schwarzer and Family Minister Kristina Schröder over different generations of women and their gender roles.
The tenth-placed expression, unter den Eurorettungsschirm schlüpfen, or “to slip under the European bailout umbrella,” referred to the European Union’s bailout of Ireland.
Each year the GfdS selects words and phrases made popular by the German media and public discussion, voting for the term that best embodies the zeitgeist. This year they chose among some 2,000 entries.
Last year’s first place word was Abwrackprämie, or “wrecking premium,” coined to describe the country’s popular cash-for-clunkers scheme, which paid people to junk their old cars as part of the government's stimulus programme.
In 2008 the word of the year was Finanzkrise, or financial crisis.
DAPD/The Local/ka
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Did Merkel's politics hurt Germany at Eurovision?
Eurovision Song Contest favourite Denmark won the competition on Saturday night, while Germany plunged to 21st place – the worst showing in five years – amidst speculation that it was payback for Angela Merkel’s hated policies. READ () »
Police warn against high-tech Islamist attacks
The Federal Criminal Police Office is warning of a new type of Islamist terrorist threat from the air that could attack both passenger and cargo planes as well as airport facilities, the Welt am Sonntag newspaper reported. READ () »
Some fear inflation if small euro coins cut
European Union proposals to eliminate one and two cent euro coins is annoying some Germans, including a few at the Bundesbank, while others think an EU idea to introduce one and two-euro notes is a good one. READ () »
Boy dies at Tropical Islands swimming pool
A 15-year-old boy died on Saturday at the popular “Tropical Islands” swimming and entertainment centre outside of Berlin, the Bild newspaper reported. READ () »
Wagner descendant slams composer
As the musical world lavishly celebrates Richard Wagner's bicentenary, the composer's great-grandson insists he is no spoilsport by denouncing the German master as a narcissist, woman-hater and an anti-Semite. READ () »
Bayern wins, Dortmund loses ahead of CL Final
If Saturday’s play was any barometer of what may happen at the Champions League final this coming Saturday, then Borussia Dortmund should be very nervous indeed. READ () »
Most Germans optimistic about the future
Although less than 50 percent of Germans are optimistic about their current situation, more than half think their future will be better and the number of pessimists in the country dropped, a survey released on Saturday showed. READ () »
Organic food stores expand rapidly
Organic food and health stores are undergoing a hefty expansion in Germany, with the Vitalia chain taking over several locations from the bankrupt Schlecker drugstore chain in Munich alone. READ () »
- 19/05 Did Merkel's politics hurt Germany at Eurovision? »
- 19/05 Wagner descendant slams composer »
- 18/05 Most Germans optimistic about the future »
- 18/05 Survey: Half of gays harassed in Germany »
- 17/05 No child support if dad is anonymous sperm donor »
- 16/05 Germany in for wet Whit weekend »
- 16/05 US denies Christian homeschoolers asylum »
- 16/05 Unhappy diners 'beat top Japanese chef to death' »
- 15/05 Diplomat's dog bites wife of Korean fat cat »
- 15/05 Single women 'too much trouble' for allotments »
- Burning ship had tonnes of radioactive material »
- 'LHighlights
Latest news from The Local in France- 19/05 Ancelotti praises 'great pro' Beckham »
- 19/05 Disgraced ex-minister abandons re-election bid »
More news from France at thelocal.fr
Latest news from The Local in NorwayMore news from Norway at thelocal.no
Latest news from The Local in SwedenMore news from Sweden at thelocal.se
Latest news from The Local in Switzerland- 19/05 Swiss to face Sweden in world ice hockey final »
- 17/05 Thieves pinch Swiss jewels from Cannes »
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
See all ads | Join the Marketplace
-
Weiss Institut
Free yourself from Smoking addictions, Sugar craving and Alcohol addictions -
PsyShrink Frankfurt
The Expat Psychologists in Munich, Frankfurt and worldwide -
Chambervelt Rooselain & Cie Ltd.
Insurance and financial planning for English speakers in Germany -
Shiply Worldwide Ltd
Shiply the Online Transport Market Place -
PsyShrink Munich
The Expat Psychologists in Munich, Frankfurt and worldwide -
British Corner Shop
British Corner Shop - The online supermarket for expats
Jobs in Germany, in English784 jobs available
603 new jobs this week
30 new jobs today- Grid Modeling Expert (m/f) - Stellenausschreibung TenneT
- Market / Business Intelligence Leader (m/f)
- Analyst Predictive Maintenance (m/f)
- Trade Marketing Manager (f/m)
- Opportunity for Medical Information Scientists and Information Managers as Epidemiological Data M...
- Trainee to work in business development for Daimler Insurance Services
- Sales Professional (m/f)
- Finance Administrator (Account Payable & Travel Expenses)
- Customer Interaction Specialist for French, English (f/m)
- Marketingassistenz (w/m)
Blog- Apr/09 Touring Tempelhof – Europe’s Largest Historical Monument
- Apr/09 Spring in Berlin 2013 – Where, What Why and When!
- Mar/12 Living Like a Local – Tell us what you think and win a weekend in Berlin!
- Feb/04 Escaping the City – Our Recommended Suburban Getaways
- Feb/04 Berlin Tegel Airport Transfers – How to get into the City
EssentialsDating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your style? Find a German sweetheart here.Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather section.Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of charge.Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.RegisterRegister now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discussNews from the Goethe-Institut- “Preserve the proven, shape the new” – the International Bach Academy in Stuttgart
For more than thirty years, Helmuth Rilling shaped the international Bach Academy; now he is succeeded by Hans-Christoph Rademann. - ‘Open Mike’ – Fireworks with the Buddha
The Berlin ‘Open Mike’ entered this year its twentieth edition. - On the Stage, the Spoken Word Prevails
In January 2013 the annual meeting of the Dramaturgical Society took place in Munich; its theme: “Speaking on Stage – and about Theatre”... - The Magician of Images – Klaus Ensikat
With the technique of an Old Master and subtle humour, the award-winning graphic designer and illustrator Klaus Ensikat has for fifty years produced ingenious illustrations for literary classics and children’s books.... - A Picture Every Day – Philip Waechter
Philip Waechter, son of the famous illustrator and cartoonist Friedrich Karl Waechter, is one of the best-known contemporary writers and illustrators of children’s books....
News from Young Germany- German first feature film in Cannes
A directorial debut from Germany makes it to the competition “Un Certain Regard” at the famous film festival on the Côte d’Azur. - Traveling Germany: Europa-Park
Think theme parks:Roller coasters, colorful rides, entertainment, thrills. Think Germany: Europa-Park is the largest amusement park in the country, second in Europe only to Disneyland Paris. - Frankfurt – the digital hub
The Internet hub in Frankfurt am Main is the largest in the world and places Germany in a leading position in the digital world. - The European Year of Citizens
2013 is the European Year of Citizens. They‘re invited to contribute their ideas for the EU, and to discover more about their rights as EU citizens. An example: labour mobility. - Neuschwanstein Castle: In Photos
Neuschwanstein is the most popular tourist attraction in Germany. And for good reason. King Ludwig II's castle looks like it fell out of a book of fairy tales.
News from DeutschlandOnline- Theatre festival between the Saar and the Mosel
The Festival Perspectives in the German-French region around Saarbrücken is staging European theatre, dance and music productions. - The European Year of Citizens
2013 is the European Year of Citizens. - Europe Day, Robert Schuman and Class 4a
Enthusiasm for the idea of Europe – in the 60th European Competition, schoolchildren from Germany show what this could look like. - Relief organizations
The portals presented here provide information on the help programs offered by different organizations.
- Analyst Predictive Maintenance
- Grid Modeling Expert - Stellenausschreibung TenneT
- Market / Business Intelligence Leader
- Contract Manager
- Dipl. Ingenieur (FH) /Techniker
- Account Manager - Academic Sales - Germany
- Application Development Engineer Nutrinova
- Berater Regulatory Affairs
- Business Process Analyst
- Channel Sales Representative
- 17/05 paid internship
- 17/05 Florida resident seeks job in baden Baden Germany
- 17/05 Berlin Writing Group
- 17/05 cheap car hire
- 15/05 Queen size bed & frame
- 15/05 Feste Stelle
- 23:48 South Africans in Munich
- 23:44 Hit a bicyclist with my car at a crossroad
- 23:35 What is one of these called?
- 23:33 Problem with foreign-registered vehicle
- 23:26 Claiming tax deductions
- 23:07 Translators' meetup, monthly networking event
- 22:55 Looking for tennis partner in Berlin
- 22:53 Sunday Night Clubbing
- 22:50 Cat hotels or cat sitting needed in June/July
- 22:49 Buying a rented apartment
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!
'Charming, old, beamed cottage for holiday let in Jesus Pobre, Alicante, Spain
www.littlehouseinspain.com/
Professional and qualified consultancy on all insurance and finance matters in Germany, Telephone: +49 2163 571 1740, Email: bg@albatross-assurance.com
www.albatross-assurance.com
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.
Your comments about this article:
Hippies are just pissed,
that they can't protest about the Wars or America or Capitalism anymore.
Ever since Obama got elected, all that is kinda taboo, Germans don't want to be called Racists or worse, Republican. Aarrr! ;)
soo..
Ugly Hippies are running out of crap to moan about, entonces, you get Lame stories like Stuttgart 21, Midnight Train to Nuclear Dump stories 24 7 2010. :snore:
I hope that next year some of the Hippies will start lighting themselves on fire like the Buddhist Monks did back when important stuff happened.