Here are 7 German expressions that don’t have a direct equivalent in Spanish – and what they reveal about the culture behind the language.
1. Fernweh
Literal meaning: “Distance pain” (fern = far, Weh = pain).
What it really means: The longing to travel somewhere far away, even if you’ve never been there before.
Cultural note: While Spanish has ganas de viajar, ansias de viajar or espíritu viajero, Fernweh has a bittersweet, almost poetic touch – like homesickness, but for places you haven’t met yet.
2. Kummerspeck
Literal meaning: “Grief bacon” (Kummer = grief, Speck = bacon/fat).
What it really means: The extra weight gained from emotional overeating during stressful or sad times.
Cultural note: Spanish has engordar por tristeza or comer por ansiedad, but none carry the same humorous yet empathetic tone as Kummerspeck.
3. Feierabend
Literal meaning: “Celebration evening”.
What it really means: The moment your workday ends and you are officially off duty – a time to relax and enjoy yourself.
Cultural note: In Spain, we say salir del trabajo or hora de descansar, but Feierabend is almost sacred in Germany, symbolising a healthy work-life balance.
4. Torschlusspanik
Literal meaning: “Gate closing panic”.
What it really means: The fear that time is running out to achieve something in life (career, family, experiences).
Cultural note: While Spanish expressions like miedo a quedarse atrás exist, Torschlusspanik reflects a vivid metaphor from medieval times, when city gates closed at night.
5. Verschlimmbessern
Literal meaning: “To make worse while trying to improve”.
What it really means: When you try to fix something, but your “improvement” actually makes it worse.
Cultural note: In Spanish, empeorar al intentar mejorar is descriptive but lacks the elegant compactness of this single German word.
6. Fremdschämen
Literal meaning: “External shame”.
What it really means: The embarrassment you feel on behalf of someone else when they do something awkward or socially inappropriate.
Cultural note: Spanish might use vergüenza ajena, which is close, but Fremdschämen emphasises the almost physical discomfort of witnessing it.
7. Zugzwang
Literal meaning: “Move compulsion”.
What it really means: A situation (from chess) where you must make a move even though it will put you at a disadvantage – used metaphorically for life situations.
Cultural note: In Spanish, we might explain it as obligado a actuar aunque sea perjudicial, but it’s not as punchy or tied to the chess origin.
Why this matters for learners
Learning expressions without exact translations is more than vocabulary building – it’s cultural immersion. These words open a window into how Germans see the world, what they value, and how they describe human experiences.
By incorporating them into your conversations, you don’t just speak better German – you think a little more like a native.
