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03/11/2006 Entry: "expat slang"

expat slang of the day

For today's expat slang we bring you two and a half:

Späti or Spätshop (shpaytee) n., from spät (late) and shop (shop)-- a convenience store open from 7pm to 2am. Also called Spätkauf.

This is actually what they're called in German, but as far as I know they are a Dresden speciality. "Stores" are supposed to close at 8pm, but some enterprising lads have somehow found a loophole where they pretend to be bistros -- albeit sans tables and chairs. Basically it's the place to go when in need for beer, smokes, rubbers or dogfood. But the prices are lower than those of proper drinking establishments, making them a kind of coffeehouse for punks and the otherwise unemployed.

hol (hole) v., from holen (fetch, go get) -- to go get. eg: I'm gonna hol me some smokes.

Almost every English speaking expat I know who can speak German (so that's about three (?) people) let's this one slip into his everday language. They can't help it, it's just too easy and fun.

K'hohlen v. from Kohle holen (fetch coal) -- to fetch coal from the cellar.

Actually I just made this one up yesterday as I passed my roomie, Kolbe (coalba), on the way to the cellar. He was busy k'hohlben himself, which means Kolbe goes to get coal from the cellar.