Nicknames

hannover-l
1

Don: Yes, I thought of including Heinz but having known at least 2 people who had it as a proper name, I decided against it. I find that the most difficult for non-German speaking people to connect are Hans for Johann and Gretchen for Margarethe among others. But for such as I, who grew up knowing or hearing about Tante Line, Tante Lise, Tante Gretchen, Onkel Henni, usw., it comes as second nature. It was hard to decide where to draw the line.
John: Enjoyed your lengthy exposition (why did it not surprise me?) - quite the philologist you are.
Here is a funny little anecdote you both might enjoy: Many years ago on my first visit to Bremen, a friend of a cousin who lived there offered to show me around. On the way from Vilsen to Bremen she asked me what Jane would be auf deutsch. (Germans have difficulty pronouncing the French-sounding first letter of Jane). I told her it would be Johanne. Much later as I was admiring the famous Stadtmusikanten, I heard someone calling "Hanni! Hanni!"
from across the square. Even for me, it took a while to register that she was calling me!
Jane

jeswansong@earthlink.net
EarthLink Revolves Around You.

2

I can picture it perfectly. I still have difficulty recognizing the slew of nicknames I've been given, the most prevalent ones being "Schlingel" "Nichtsnutz" "Hillbillyknabe" "St�renfried" "Knochenkopf" and "Lump". None are diminutives as you can see, and that last one is a family favorite I can't seem to shake. Fortunately I don't know what any mean, but they all sound nice when they're said with a smile.

Oh I almost forgot "Hey you, yes you nitwit!" still gets me every time. :slight_smile:

Jb

3

>Here is a funny little anecdote you both might enjoy: Many years ago on

my

>first visit to Bremen, a friend of a cousin who lived there offered to

show

>me around. On the way from Vilsen to Bremen she asked me what Jane would
>be auf deutsch. (Germans have difficulty pronouncing the French-sounding
>first letter of Jane). I told her it would be Johanne. Much later as I
>was admiring the famous Stadtmusikanten, I heard someone calling "Hanni!
>Hanni!" from across the square. Even for me, it took a while to register
>that she was calling me!

I can picture it perfectly. I still have difficulty recognizing the slew

of