Word of the week

Twisting, turning, rolling: "wuzeln" has to do a lot with kinetics. Find out what it means and for which activities you can use the term.

A typical Viennese euphemism related to death is "Holzpyjama". Learn about this humorous word used to describe “cashing in one’s chips.”

Here you can learn about the Viennese slang word for the infamous, culinary tool, used in the violent process of preparing Wiener Schnitzels.

Noun. A loss, originally in the central European card game, Schnapsen.

What does fremdschämen mean? We explain the perfect word to include in spiteful expressions thowards people with a lack of self-awareness.

What does genieren mean? Find out about how this term is tied to French language and how you can properly use it in context.

What does Schmähtandler mean? This common Viennese dialect term is great for describing liars and tricksters.

What does pflanzen mean? Which use of the term does it find in Viennese slang? What does pflanzen have to do with describing being annoyed?

What does the word Chutzpe mean? How does the term apply to extrovert characteristics and behaviour, both positively and negatively?

What does Doppler mean? What does Doppler have to do with Tafelwein or Landwein? Why has it been gradually phased out over the past decade?

What does Blechtrottel mean? How is this combination of words linked to computers not working in a desired fashion and their clueless users?

What does Holler mean? How is this Viennese abbreviation for Hollunder linked to horse feathers, claptrap, poppycock, hogwash and tomfoolery?

What does Gscherter mean? Find out about how this Viennese slang word is connected to sheared serfs, peasants, slaves and prisoners?

What does Watschen mean? How is this Viennese slang word connected with an infamous German anti-aircraft gun and the Italian word for cymbal?

What does Österreichische Lösung mean? Learn how the term fortwursteln and handing political problems over to one's successors are connected.

What does Masel mean? How is it used? Learn about how the Austrian dialect word for “luck” is tied to failing, birds and Yiddish language.

What does Haberer mean? How is it used in Austria? Learn about the importance of friends, networks and connections in Austrian society.

What does Knödel mean? How is it used in Austria? It’s another word for dumplings which Austrians love, and it is a slang word for money.

What does wurscht mean? How is it used in Austria? If you want to communicate your indifference to people in Viennese,"wurscht" is your word.

What does anbraten mean? How is it used in Austria? Are you new to Vienna and interrested in the dating scene? Here's some local lingo.

Junk, crap; broken, useless, things. Orig. from Gelumpe (rags). Note that Glumpert generally does not refer to actual garbage – after all, trash is simply the detritus of something useful that has served its purpose.

To bother, pester or annoy someone. So the implication is that you are desiccating someone, making them itchy and irritable like dry skin with literally “withering” remarks.

To complain, bitch, moan or grumble. And someone who frequently engages in such pessimistic ramblings is called a Suderant. Origin most likely from sieden (to simmer), the implication being that instead of an outburst, anger simmers steadily beneath the surface, never boiling over.

Verb. To march arduously, to slog, plod or trudge; can also mean to limp and, by extension, to strut (comparable to “pimp walk”).

Verb. To march arduously, to slog, plod or trudge; can also mean to limp and, by extension, to strut (comparable to “pimp walk”).

A practice commonly associated with Austrian government employees denoting that a civil servant is legally unfireable.

The proportional division of public offices along party lines.

Lit. “nerve tickle”; an informal German expression denoting the thrill and rush of adrenaline-inducing activities.

Adjective. Fat, overweight, obese. Orig. from gebläht (bloated).

Awesome, cool, excellent. Sometimes emphasized as urleiwand or voi leiwand (totally awesome).

Lit. “e-card vacation;” colloquial Viennese slang for going on (paid) sick leave.

Verb. To work, especially hard, physical labor.

Verb. 1. To do a slipshod, haphazard, unprofessional or poor-quality job.

Verb. To get worked up; to make a mountain out of a molehill.

Noun. Lit. Transdanubia, a popular nickname for the two Viennese districts beyond the Danube.

Deaf, hard of hearing to the point of exasperation.

Coll. Viennese for a casual, informal liaison.

Noun. Orig. either French basin or Italian bacino, both meaning basin.

Noun. A car crash, particularly multivehicle pileups.

Noun. In use since at least the 14th century, this highly versatile word has multiple meanings.

Noun. A loveable rogue; someone who is untrustworthy, but charming.

adjective. Ugly, unattractive, aesthetically displeasing.

Noun. An incapable, clumsy and generally incompetent person.

Greeting. Often contracted in conversation as Servas!, Sers! or Seas! Also used to say goodbye.

Noun.Lit. “i-dot-rider;” A pedantic person; a stickler; someone who insists on dotting all “i’s” and crossing all “t’s.”

Noun. Lit. Founder’s Era. A time during the second half of the 19th century where Austria (Austria-Hungary after 1867) became industrialized and under went unprecedented modernization and growth.

Noun. A snack, or a (usually cold) meal served in between the standard breakfast, lunch and dinner, although coffee and cake also qualifies. Orig...

Noun. Riffraff, reprobates, a group of people you generally hold a low opinion of. A loanword from French that made it into the Viennese ...

   Noun. A very smart person. Lit. a "lightning comprehender," someone who gets things in a flash. A compound word consisting of...

Noun. Lit. "Terrorizer of the Bourgeoisie;" A person who deliberately tries to shock and offend the conservative middle classes with prov...