Coll. Gspusi is the Viennese for a casual, informal liaison; sometimes used to refer to the person you’re having said liaison with. Orig. Italian, from sposa/sposo (bride/groom).
Far less regimented than a mistress or kept man but more stable than a fling, a Gspusi need not involve cheating and can occur between two singles, is colloquial to be understood as a more or less secret love affair.
The defining factor is that, for whatever reason, both parties prefer to keep it on the down-low. Reasons for secrecy can range from fear of a legitimate partner finding out to simply being too embarrassed to be seen in public with your Gspusi.
Somewhat ironically, this very simplicity can sometimes lead to Gspusis outlasting more formal relationships. Tired of “It’s complicated”? Get thee a Gspusi!
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No matter how well you speak German, the Word Of The Week will help you impress any Viennese! While learning German is not an easy task in general, learning the language in Austria can come to be twice as complicated.
But Austrians may nod approvingly if you put together a coherent sentence, harmonizing the Akkusativpronomen correctly with the subject. But they’ll loveyou if you enrich your vocabulary with just one word of Wienerisch.
Strongly linked to local cultural individualities, the slangs change and evolve in all cultures around the world, the words and phrases make sense only when one is familiar with their cultural context. The Word of the Week is here to help you understand those singularities and impress the locals with some real Viennese words and expressions.
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