14 December 2021

German coronavirus neologisms

babyelefant, n.Unit of measurement for appropriate social distancing

ellenbogengruss, n. A touching of elbows in greeting

fussgruss, n. A touching of feet in greeting

geisterküche, n. Ghost kitchen; a restaurant without eat-in dining

hamsteritis, n. A compulsion to hoard supplies such as toilet paper

kuschelkontakt, n. Cuddle contact; a person within one’s quarantine bubble

maskomat, n. A machine that dispenses masks

nacktnase, n. Naked nose; a person whose mask only covers their mouth

niesscham, n. The torment one feels when needing to sneeze in public

pandemiezirkus, n. Stressful living conditions during the pandemic

spuckwand, n. Spit wall; a barrier to prevent the exchange of air particles

todesküsschen, n. Little kiss of death, a reference to the risk of coronavirus transmission via traditional cheek-kiss greetings

Selections from a longer list at Harper's Magazine.

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