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The Germans are funny people. At least as far as some expressions for modern life amenities are concerned. Germans call the mobile phone a “Handy“, talk of “Wellness” when they actually mean “spa”. A nice cocooning in front of the television comprises “Bier und chips” - meaning beer and crisps. And a sweater in German is called a “Pullover”.

The German language is stuffed with pseudo-English terms. How come that the Germans use English words that either don’t exist or mean something completely different in the English language? The reason is the need to feel hip and modern. The Germans didn’t invent the mobile phone. As a matter of fact the mobile phone was still an awe-inspiring invention for Germans when it was already something of an old hat in other countries. So at least the mobile phone should have a non-German name. The term “Handy” was born. Something that at least sounded English and therefore had a modern, progressive feel about it. Marketing people invented the word “Handy”. It comprises the idea of something hand-held that comes in handy at times. And the Germans loved that term. It was much easier than calling the new technology a “Mobiltelefon”. Plus, it sounded kind of cute and Germans like cute expressions.

Germans who use German words for modern things are considered square. You suspect them of being too stupid to know English. Or worse, too proud of their own language, which in Germany is something that is associated with being proud to be German. That, still, is a no-go with most Germans. So, rather than call a mobile telephone a “Mobiltelefon”, Germans go for “Handy”. Trendy, hip, and cosmopolitan.