‘Schnutenpulli’, ‘Hamsteritis’ and ‘Kuschelkontakt’—you might not recognize these German compound words, but we can guarantee you’ll know the feelings.
These are just some of the 1,200 new German words created over the last year to help describe the radically different way we’ve all been living through the Coronavirus pandemic. From social distancing to panic buying—there’s a German word for everything we’ve felt and experienced during 2020.
Narrowing it down to just a handful of these new expressions, Uswitch has illustrated seven of these wonderful words with some heartbreaking and hilarious results.
7 German words that describe pandemic life perfectly, illustrated
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Schnutenpulli - ‘Snout Sweater’
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To cover your nose and mouth with a comfortable face mask.
Coronafußgruß - ‘Corona foot greeting’
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A socially-distanced greeting replacing the traditional handshake.
Abstandsbier - ‘Socially distanced beer’
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Enjoying a socially distanced beer with your friends.
Gesichtskondom - ‘Face Condom’
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A face mask to protect you and others from the virus.
Hamsteritis - ‘Panic buying’
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People acting like hamsters by stuffing their cheeks with flour, pasta and toilet paper for later use.
Coronafrisur - ‘Lockdown hairstyle’
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With many hair salons temporarily closed, this word refers to messy and unkempt hairdos.
Coronaangst - ‘Corona anxiety’
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The anxious feeling of worry about Coronavirus and the pandemic.