Comment on Learning a new language is easy!

• dojan@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  I don’t know about German, but in Swedish it looks really messy if you sunder your compound words. In general I think people know what you mean regardless, but you can end up with peculiar double meanings. There are plenty of signs, notes, and what have you that people have posted online for a laugh.

  Off the top of my head

  • Gå lättpackad i fjällen
    • Travel lightly (as in luggage) in the mountains
  • Gå lätt packad i fjällen
    • Travel slightly intoxicated in the mountains
  • Sjukgymnast
    • Physiotherapist
  • Sjuk gymnast
    • Diseased/Sick gymnast
  • Årets sista svenskodlade tulpaner
    • The last Swedish-grown tulips of the year
  • Årets sista svensk odlade tulpaner
    • The last Swede of the year cultivated tulips

  It’s also worth noting that the tones can be different, so if you “hear” the words as you read them, then “lättpackad” and “lätt packad” sounds different.

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  • MutilationWave@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    That’s very interesting that sick/sjuk have the same slang meaning, thanks.

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    • dojan@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      Yeah! I wonder if it’s because of the prevalence of English media here in Sweden. We unlike the Germans don’t really do much dubbing unless the target audience is children/families.

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