The Proto-Germanic words these both derived from are hwar (where) and hwas (who). English clearly stayed closer to hwar, but both neither English nor German kept close to hwas.
You could actually argue English might have stayed close to hwas if you consider starting a question about someone with “who was…?”
Apparently words just kinda break bits and pieces off each other some times
French - dessous (below) and dessus (above). Utterly indistinguishable for a non-native of course
It’s not that hard, though. The difference is about the same as the one between “moot” and “mute” in English.
It’s the same in both languages - both words spoken by an articulate older gent - no probs mate
Both words spoken by your average teenager - might as well be Swahili
Quick Google shows English changed it at some point. From Middle English wer, were, from Old English wer (“man”), from Proto-Germanic *weraz, from Proto-Indo-European *wiHrós (“man, freeman”).
I’ve read about people’s difficulties learning German. From what I understand every grammatical rule has so many exceptions it just as well not be a rule.
Then theres English, with “I before E, except after C.” Weird.
You might like this QI video about I before E except after C. Always gets me laughing.
Weird
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Well some rules have more exceptions than actual words that follow the rule…
Basically you have to learn everything by heart.
Weird
English language got it backwards. German is correct.
SPRECHET
DEUTSCH
KARTOFFEL
Hmmmm weird, I know both languages but I never considered that. The See/Meer being Lake/Sea situation is much more confusing to me, especially since it’s the inverse in Dutch.
Ja, ik moet ook altijd twee keer nadenken voordat ik door heb of ze het over een zee of over een meer hebben
darum
Warum? Darum.
Wait until you get to the indefinite articles.
Very confusing indeed! it gets me every time.
wieso weshalb warum?
These books were so weird
Does this mean that a werewolf is just a whowolf in German?
Manwolf.
A werewolf in German is a Werwolf. Wer from the germanic word from man and wolf.
Der Werwolf
Ein Werwolf eines Nachts entwich von Weib und Kind und sich begab an eines Dorfschullehrers Grab und bat ihn: Bitte, beuge mich!
Der Dorfschulmeister stieg hinauf auf seines Blechschilds Messingknauf und sprach zum Wolf, der seine Pfoten geduldig kreuzte vor dem Toten:
„Der Werwolf“ – sprach der gute Mann, „des Weswolfs, Genitiv sodann, dem Wemwolf, Dativ, wie man’s nennt, den Wenwolf, – damit hat’s ein End.“
Dem Werwolf schmeichelten die Fälle, er rollte seine Augenbälle. Indessen, bat er, füge doch zur Einzahl auch die Mehrzahl noch!
Der Dorfschulmeister aber mußte gestehn, daß er von ihr nichts wußte. Zwar Wölfe gäb’s in großer Schar, doch „Wer“ gäb’s nur im Singular.
Der Wolf erhob sich tränenblind – er hatte ja doch Weib und Kind!! Doch da er kein Gelehrter eben, so schied er dankend und ergeben.
Christian Morgenstern
I’m over here making a " is a hot dog A sandwich ?" Comment and you’re over there taking me seriously
Sandwich is two pieces of bread. Hotdog is a hinged loaf. If anything, a hotdog is a sub.
Wrong.
A hotdog is a taco. Think about it.
No. I refuse.
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Aren’t subs a subset of sandwiches?
I’d argue they’re a cousin
A submarine sandwich.
Open faced sandwiches.
Hot dog is sandwich.
He’s obviously German so he ist korrekt.
Not to be confused with the Wehrwolf, which fights back fiercely, and the Wärwolf, which would but isn’t. The Werfwolf, while very throwable, is right out.
And the Werftwolf builds ships
And of course, who would forget the globetrotting Weltwolf
Wos hoast g’sacht?
Wherefor?
Wait until you see that “see” is lake, and “meer” is sea. It gets me every time as a Dutchman. In Dutch “zee” is sea and “meer” is lake.
Not always true. Baltic sea is “Ostsee” (East Sea) and North Sea is “Nordsee”. Deap sea is “Hohe See” etc. Mediterranean is “Mittelmeer” though…
The difference being der See means the lake and die See means the sea
Yeah, but this distinction wasn’t given in the original comment.
Obviously though
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Wait until you find out about wem and wen
