# Words that make more sense in another language **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 10, 2009, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-make-more-sense-in-another-language/520695 "2009-12-10T04:44:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-make-more-sense-in-another-language/520695/41 "2009-12-12T18:11:44Z")
German for _cotton_ is _Baumwolle_. That means _tree wool_. It’s my very favorite German word. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-make-more-sense-in-another-language/520695/42 "2009-12-12T18:26:29Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > The Spanish word for umbrella is _paraguas_. > > Literally, ‘‘for water.’’ Makes much more sense to me! As **Nava** said, it’s actually _para_ as in _parar_, to stop. Same idea as _parasol_, _paracaídas_ (parachute, “stops falling” – the French _parachute_ is the same idea), and _parabrisas_ (windshield). ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-make-more-sense-in-another-language/520695/43 "2009-12-12T18:28:50Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Underline mine. A building should not be called a plaza, if you stick to the original meaning. And many of those “individual buildings” called Plaza are nowhere near an open space. That’s just what I mean: they stick “Plaza” into the name as a fanciful element, like calling it “Madison Square Garden” or “Place Ville-Marie.” Doesn’t mean that “plaza” means a building. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-make-more-sense-in-another-language/520695/44 "2009-12-12T19:01:22Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Underline mine. A building should not be called a plaza, if you stick to the original meaning. And many of those “individual buildings” called Plaza are nowhere near an open space. Now, I don’t know if the name was taken because the owners wanted to sound fancy borrowing an English word borrowed from Spanish, even though the name is in Spanish, but you haven’t gone to _Plaza las Américas_\*, have you? It’s just, your posts reminded me of that (and some of her sisters, like _Plaza del Caribe_ and _Plaza del sol_). \*The biggest shopping mall in the Caribbean, located in Puerto Rico. Their slogan is “Plaza, el centro de todo”. The other two are smaller shopping malls. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-make-more-sense-in-another-language/520695/45 "2009-12-13T02:05:33Z")
Haven’t been to Puerto Rico yet, so no. But I’ll join my WAG to yours, it sounds like that kind of thing. Reminds me of those ads for a string of English-language schools which have someone talking about taking a flight; every time she uses a word borrowed from English (and of course, being a _pija_ she chooses the English word for anything whether there is a Spanish word or not), they add it to a list, and finally they say “you already know a lot of English! We’ll just teach you more of it.” Pijo: someone who tries to be classy and fails miserably. Vicky Beckam, the Iglesias lot. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-make-more-sense-in-another-language/520695/46 "2009-12-13T02:39:37Z")
Another German one: _Schweinfleisch_. Literally, “pig meat”. Also, _Selbstmord_: “self death”. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-make-more-sense-in-another-language/520695/47 "2009-12-13T02:43:41Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > As **Nava** said, it’s actually _para_ as in _parar_, to stop. Same idea as _parasol_, _paracaídas_ (parachute, “stops falling” – the French _parachute_ is the same idea), and _parabrisas_ (windshield). Wow, I never made that connection! That makes even _more_ sense! ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-make-more-sense-in-another-language/520695/48 "2009-12-13T13:20:38Z")
> [@MLS](#): > > Short for crane berry. The plant bends over so that it sort of resembles the bird. I always thought the name is based on cranberries growing where cranes are also found, ie. specific type of marshland. There’s a ton of just such plant names in Finnish, e.g. ‘grouseberry’, ‘squirrelsberry’, fox’s bread’ etc. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-make-more-sense-in-another-language/520695/49 "2009-12-13T18:06:54Z")
Schlatchfest = Slaughter Festival. Schutzenfest = Shooting Festival. Sounds like a horror film and shooting extravaganza, donit? Kaufschmertz = Head (kauf) Schmertz - ache/pain. Kaput = broken. The funniest word to me in german is **burgermeister**. Meaning a mayor. I blame the Heat Miser. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-make-more-sense-in-another-language/520695/50 "2009-12-13T18:26:28Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > I blame the Heat Miser. Not Burgermeister Meisterburger? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-make-more-sense-in-another-language/520695.md?page=2)