I love the German word ver­bes­se­rungs­be­dürf­tig, meaning in need of improvement. I’m not German, but thought this was a cracking word.

  • Ephera@lemmy.mlEnglish
    9·
    2 days ago

    Yeah, Wikipedia tells me the longest word that was actually in use is Grundstücks­verkehrs­genehmigungs­zuständigkeitsübertragungs­verordnung. It was a decree from 2003 until 2007.

    Basically:

    • “Grundstück” is a plot of land.
    • “Verkehr” is traffic “trade” in this context.
    • “Genehmigung” is approval.
    • “Zuständigkeit” is responsibility.
    • “Übertragung” is transfer.
    • “Verordnung” is decree.

    So, it decreed that the responsibility of approving traffic on trade of private plots of land should be transferred (to a different government body).

    • Elvith Ma'for@feddit.org
      3·
      2 days ago

      While technically correct, the word Verkehr here does not translate to traffic, but rather belongs to the compound Verkehrsgenehmigung which is roughly a trade permit for selling a plot of land or using it as a collateral on a loan.

      • Ephera@lemmy.mlEnglish
        2·
        2 days ago

        Damn, seems you’re right. For folks reading along: That’s not how that word usually works in German, but I guess, it is how it works in German legalese…

        • Elvith Ma'for@feddit.org
          3·
          2 days ago

          German legalese has Verkehr as a reference to in Verkehr bringen which means put something on the market / put something on circulation.

          But it’s hard to recognize /learn because

          1. Verkehr almost(?) always means traffic outside of legalese and
          2. There are also traffic laws, that also use Verkehr but really mean traffic