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Mordshunger

November 2, 2011

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

https://p.dw.com/p/RuPO
Mordshunger
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/stockfood

If you know a little bit of German, this week's word might send a shiver down your spine. After all, Mord means "murder" - while Hunger is a familiar cognate. But if a German tells you he's got a case of Mordshunger, there's no need to go diving for shelter. The term is an exaggeration meaning that someone is ravenously hungry, perhaps a bit like the English expression, "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse!" Just be sure not to confuse the two. Saying "I'm so hungry I could murder a horse!" is sure to draw you some weird looks.

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