Wanderwords

“Latte macchiato”, “Surfen” im “Internet”, “Rendezvous”, "Tohuwabohu", "Hängematte", “Anorak” or "Tollpatsch". Every day we use words that have made their way into German from other languages. They make our world much more colourful. Often we are not even aware that they come from another language.
"Anorak," (winter jacket) for example, originated in Greenland, and "Tollpatsch" (Klutz) comes from Hungary. Language change is not a phenomenon of modern times. We have been incorporating words into German for centuries. Likewise, German words migrate into other languages, such as "kindergarten", "Gesundheit" (health) or "butterbrot" (bread with butter).

Books such as "Horizont und Hängematte: Verliebt in 100 eingewanderte Wörter" (Horizon and Hammock: In love with 100 immigrant words) or "Eingewanderte Wörter" (Immigrant words) and "Ausgewanderte Wörter" (Emigrant words) portray these words including some amusing facts. The latter books are no longer published by the Hueber Verlag, but you can still find them on e.g. Amazon.

The game "Wanderwörter" (Wanderwords) also by Hueber can be found for purchase on the Internet and in many libraries of the Goethe Institutes worldwide. "Wanderwörter" is a quiz game and revolves around immigrant and emigrant words in the German language. According to the publisher, the game is designed for language level starting at B2, age 14 years and up. However, it can also be used at B1 level if lexically difficult cards are sorted out and more time is allowed for explanations during the game. The approximate playing time is 20-30 minutes. The game board can be omitted and the game can be played in several groups at the same time. The learners ask each other the questions and if they answer correctly they get the card as a victory point.