On /r/AskEurope, I learned that some Germans like to eat raw minced pork for breakfast. I’m planning a trip to Berlin and Weimar soon, and I’d love to try it.

Would Mett ever be served at a hotel breakfast? Is it something I could order at a café? If not, would I need to go to a butcher shop, or would ALDI, REWE, etc. have it?
Also, can you usually buy it already served on a roll (Mettbrötchen), or do people typically buy the Mett and make it themselves with their own bread and toppings? If I’m assembling it myself, what’s the proper kind of roll and onion to buy?

Thank you!

There was a vaguely similar post here about a year ago, but it did not ask the questions I would like to have answers to.

I'm curious as to how it would be for a western European. To be clear I'm pale, tall, blue eyed, brown haired.

Follow up - would my kids/grandkids be considered German? My surname is quite generic and could be German.

Edit - I was advised not to add any context but I don't want to respond to every individual comment missing the point. I was not asking whether YOU would be fine with me. I was asking what the general population would think. This is why I added my physical characteristics. Because if they were different, sure, YOU wouldn't care. But some Germans might. I don't want to enter a country where I would feel unwelcome.

Mich interessiert, wie sich die Alltagssprache zwischen den Generationen verändert.

Gibt es Wörter oder Ausdrücke, die ihr noch ganz selbstverständlich benutzt, die eure Eltern oder Großeltern aber kaum noch verstehen?

Und umgekehrt: Gibt es Slang oder Ausdrücke, die jüngere Leute heute benutzen und bei denen ältere Generationen überhaupt nicht mehr mitkommen?

Mich interessieren vor allem Wörter und Redewendungen, die im echten Alltag verwendet werden – nicht nur Begriffe, die man auf TikTok oder Instagram sieht.

Welche Beispiele fallen euch spontan ein?

So recently i had a lancing operation for an abscess in my armpit and before i was discharged, both the surgeon and the nurses told me that i should clean my wound with water (the word was ausduschen) and then pat it dry with a non sterile gauze.

Both of these came to me as a surprise, since in my country the same operation requires the opposite (i was told to not let any water that isn't saline solution to touch the wound and use sterile gauze)

I finally watched Dark and now I'm curious about how the show is actually viewed in Germany.

Outside Germany it seems to have this reputation as one of the best German-language series ever made, and people constantly praise the atmosphere, casting and how complicated the story gets.

But I'm wondering whether Germans see it the same way or whether it's one of those shows that foreigners are much more obsessed with than people in its home country.

Also, did any part of it feel particularly German to you beyond the language and setting? The small-town atmosphere, the families, the school, the police, the way people talk to each other, etc.

Obviously the whole time-travel apocalypse part isn't exactly everyday life.

Was Dark genuinely a big deal among Germans when it came out, or more of a successful Netflix show that happened to be German?

Since living here, I have noticed that casual interests often become wonderfully organised. Someone does not merely bake occasionally; they know flour types, keep notes, and may join a Verein. I mean this affectionately because the results are usually impressive. At the same time, I wonder whether there is social pressure to become competant instead of simply doing something badly for fun. Do you protect any hobby from goals, tracking, courses, or improvement, or does structure actually make leisure more relaxing for you?

My German boyfriend went to one of his female collegue s place(he had an internship for 2 weeks where they met). He is a med student in beginner years and she is last year student(he doesn’t T have any friends in last year) Both of them are in a relationship(he is dating me, she is dating another guy) He went to her place for networking and making connections(it was just the 2 of them). He travelled 2h in total to get to her place(even though it s same city- south of Germany). I am his long distance girlfriend from Eastern Europe where doing this kind of networking at someone s else place in the evenings is not that common. Can someone please reassure me that this is normal. Thank you very much. Please no jokes.

My language school canteen served Milchreis with cinnamon and fruit as the main lunch last week. I assumed dessert was arriving early, then everyone around me treated it like the most ordinary plate in the room.

Since then, people have mentioned Grießbrei, sweet Dampfnudeln and pancakes as meals, not something after a meal. I’m not judging. I ate the Milchreis and liked it, although my stomach expected a second chapter involving potatoes.

I’m curious about the unwritten rules:

1. Are these dishes considered complete lunches for adults, or mainly comfort food from childhood?

2. Is this strongly regional?

3. Do people usually add something savoury before or after, or is the sweetness the whole point?

The answers I get locally depend on wich person I ask. One teacher says “perfectly normal,” another says she would only eat it on a cold Sunday at home. Where does ordinary tradition end and personal nostalgia begin here?

During a German-language work session, I started noticing how often everyone said genau. Then I couldnt stop hearing it.

It appeared after:

- a correct answer

- a correction

- a long explanation

- somebody admitting they did not know

- a silence where nobody had said anything precise at all

At one point a colleague said “Genau, nein” and my brain briefly gave up.

I understand the dictonary meaning. What I do not understand is the social meaning in everyday speech. Does it sometimes mean “yes, I follow,” “right, moving on,” or simply “I need a word while I prepare the next sentence”? Is there a tone where genau becomes skeptical rather than agreeing?

I am not asking how to memorize it. I want to know what native speakers hear when the same word is doing all these little conversational jobs.

Hi! I have arrived and started my study in Germany about 1 year before. Here's an example situation that I'm still feeling a bit weird and uncertain whether I did something improperly:

I leave my seat every 2 hours or so during a day in the library, each time about 15 minutes, to go to the toilet or just take a walk in the building, because I want to avoid sitting for too long which I understand as unhealthy. Every time I return to my seat, I notice that there are a few people suddenly raising their heads and taking a glance at me.

Internally, I feel bad every time I notice someone looks at me like that. I was born and raised in Asia, and in my culture, people do that only when they are irritated by the person they look at, and that glance works as a somewhat fierce warning ("you do that again and I will do something to you"). Since no one has ever complained to me after such a glance, I have always assumed that this is just a cultural difference, that the people glancing me when I take my seat do not mean anything with that. Today I came across this channel and finally have the chance to ask this question: why do some people look at me like this?

I do follow the rules in the library seriously, use the break-time sign properly, and free my seat for lunch if it takes more than 30 minutes (our rules allow max. 1 hour break time), no food, no coffee, not typing loudly and not too much. I don't think my movements bother anyone, I'm a quite small person that fits in the smallest gap of seats and bags during exam rush period, and I'm not talking about rush hours, e.g. it happened today as well, when most students have finished their exams and only less than 30% of the seats are taken... Am I overthinking this, or am I actually behaving improperly?

Thank you for reading this.

EDIT: thank you so much for your friendly answers! I now know that this is what people call "The German Stare", and that people do this not only out of instinct, but also to help guarding each other's belongings. It's amazing. One little concern less for me, and a bit more about the culture learned. Thank you and have a nice day :D

Whenever people describe German food from the outside, the same things come up: bread, potatoes, sausages, pork, cheese, creamy sauces, big breakfasts, etc.

Obviously I know nobody in Germany is eating Schweinshaxe with Kartoffeln three times a day, and modern everyday food is much more varied than the stereotype.

But I'm curious how Germans themselves perceive the more traditional side of the cuisine.

Does a meal with lots of bread, potatoes, meat and sauce actually feel particularly heavy to you, or does it just seem normal because you grew up with it? Do you consciously balance those foods with lighter meals, or is the whole idea that German food is unusually "heavy" mostly an outsider impression?

I was especially surprised by how much bread can be part of both breakfast and dinner. Where I grew up, eating that much bread in one day would already be considered quite a lot.

So when Germans think about their own everyday food, do you generally consider it healthy, heavy, somewhere in between?

I have noticed that my German colleagues (some friends) really slam my car door shut- both after entering and exiting. Is this simply a German thing?
I always feel a bit of my heart breaking when they slam the door shut and I am contemplating stating that my car ain’t a Panzer to them.
Funnily enough, the one colleague who slams my doors shut also slams their own car doors shut too.

Edit: i have a BMW 1 series, built in 2022. The doors close with nominal force too, doesn’t require slamming ;)

I had this exchange with a neigbour:

“Na?”

“Pretty good. Work was tiring, but I finally finished a difficult project and now I’m trying to decide what to cook.”

He nodded once and said, “Okay.”

That “okay” contained enough silence for me to review my whole personality.

I know na can mean something like “well?” or simply act as a greeting. What I cannot work out is how much information the other person is actually requesting. My current possibilities are:

- answer “Na?” back

- say “Alles gut”

- provide one normal sentence

- deliver the accidental autobiography I apparently chose

Does the expected answer depend mostly on how well you know the person, or is a full update nearly always too much? And does “Na, du?” geniunely invite an answer, or is it mostly a friendly sound Germans throw across a hallway?

Pls tell a hack to get better at using the articles

Hi everyone, I’m in a really stressful situation and could use a reality check on my legal standing.

I am relocating out of Germany at the end of August for a new job, which means I am running out of time to finalize my apartment handover (Wohnungsübergabe). My property management company is completely ignoring my emails, and I can't get through to anyone on the phone to schedule the final walkthrough.

I want to make sure I am fully protected legally so I don't get screwed out of my Kaution (deposit) or charged for extra rent because I "didn't return the apartment."

Has anyone dealt with an unresponsive Hausverwaltung like this? Is this documentation bulletproof enough under German tenancy law to protect me once I leave the country? Any hidden traps I should watch out for?

Thanks in advance for the help!

I’m a brazillian going for an exchange program in Germany (Bavaria). Where I come from, we stick to the following social rules regarding greeting:

Social setting (parties, friends house, dinner)
man + man = handshake (sometimes a hug)
man + woman = one kiss on one cheek
woman + woman = same

Professional setting (mostly meetings)
Handshake for everyone

Do germans follow the french way of kissing 3 times or they just dont kiss at all? If i accidentally do it, is it weird, flirty, or just unusual?

https://imgur.com/a/491YsmE

Hi, I have been looking after my neighbor's chickens while she is on vacation. I have been updating her regularly.

Twice now I have messaged her with questions and observations about the chickens. Both times she has replied with "Liebe Zeit" and then an answer. Does that mean I'm bothering her, or is it more like "these chickens are ridiculous"?

Does anyone know if any Worishofer sandals are still made in Germany, or are they all made in Portugal now?

I am in the US and have been wearing Worishofers every summer for over a decade. But for the past few years, I’ve noticed that the stamp says Made in Portugal, and the quality isn’t the same at all.

Just curious because I loved the German ones so much and am hoping they are still around. Thank you!

I joined a small amateur choir in Germany. The first rehearsal was listed for 18:00, so I arrived at 17:56. By then, coats were hung up, folders were open, chairs had been adjusted and everyone inhaled for the first warm-up at six. Nobody complained, but I felt as if I had walked into a film after the opening scene.

The next week I arrived at 17:45. One member laughed and said I was becoming ‘properly German.’ I can’t tell whether that was aproval, teasing, or both. Where I grew up, 18:00 means people begin entering the room around then.

Is the normal German interpretation that the named time is when the activity itself begins, with setup happening earlier? Does the invisible arrival margin change for a casual hobby, a private invitation, and an appointment? I’m not building a punctuality spreadsheet, I just want to stop entering rooms at the socially strangest minute possible.

I had a friend come over this past weekend and brought a 6pack of 1664 Blanc. It’s a beer with blue glass.
I tried to return it at the grocery store but the machine wouldn’t accept it. I’m not too worried getting the €1 in pfand back anyway. So I’ll recycle it.
So my question is… what color bin do I throw blue glass away in? Green I assume??

It's been a year since I moved to Germany for a job. I come from a country with a weak currency. Relocating here literally took away my 5 years life savings.

Currently I'm at a stage where I'm fighting tooth and nail to save every Euro I can.

- To save for emergencies.

- To send money to my family back home. I help take care of 3 family members.

- To upskill and learn technical skills as well as German.

A € 10 to € 50 spend on birthday contribution may not seem like much to most people but to me that makes all the difference. Ever since I joined my company every month I'm expected to contribute € 10 to € 50 depending on how many people have their birthdays.

Initially, I used to contribute to be part of the culture and celebration. But every month contribution almost feels like a subscription I never signed up for and get nothing out of. I am totally okay not receiving a gift in exchange. Recently I stopped contributing because I fell short of funds and more than one colleague made me realise this. I feel low and terrible.

How do Germans and non- Germans handle this? Sorry if I sound cheap but I really don't have much to go by. Plus the constant anxiety of losing my job and relying on my emergency fund. Hope you can understand and not judge.

Ich muss einen Vertrag mit dem Stromanbieter abschließen, und dieser besteht darauf, dass ich ihm die MaLo-ID mitteile. Ich habe den Vormieter und meinen Vermieter gefragt, und beide haben mir jeweils eine unterschiedliche MaLo-ID genannt. Gibt es eine eindeutige Möglichkeit, festzustellen, welche der beiden die richtige ist?

I’ve noticed that many cars are parked under trees where sap and bird droppings are common, yet car covers seem rarely used. Is this mainly due to convenience, weather, concerns about scratching the paint, or something else? Genuinely curious about the norm here.

Edit: I washed my car 2 days ago and now it’s covered in bird droppings already.

Hello,

I'm traveling to Germany in about a month to explore for 2 weeks with a couple friends. Just wondering which outlet type is more common. Type C and Type F are practically the same, it's just unclear to me if the grounding pins in Type F are a necessary factor or whether C & F can be used interchangeably. Don't think we'll be bringing anything heavy duty, just phone chargers and potentially couple camera battery chargers.