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Eierschalensollbruchstellenverursacher

Learn a funny, quirky German word each week with DW's Word of the Week feature. This week: Eierschalensollbruchstellenverursacher.

https://p.dw.com/p/Rl8p
Image: Take2 Designagentur

The German language is kind of like Legos: Just stack the words together to make (up) a new compound term. "Eierschalensollbruchstellenverursacher" is a good example. Sure it's long, but when taken apart literally the "egg shell pre-determined breaking point causer" actually makes sense. At least it does to Germans, everyone else needs a handful of words to explain what this breakfast gadget does. Quite simply, an "Eierschalensollbruchstellenverursacher" is used to crack the shell of a boiled egg. Admittedly, they're not as common in Germany as they should be, since soft-boiled eggs served in an egg cup with a mini egg spoon, are an essential part of a traditional German breakfast. People who haven't had a second cup of coffee, however, can be excused for cracking their eggs with spoons rather than trying to ask for the "Eierschalensollbruchstellenverursacher." Though dropping a weight onto an egg remains something everyone should try at least once.