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- An Australian decrypts the North Germans
- Moin !: a greeting for the whole of northern Germany
- Jo !: one word many meanings
- Mmmm: It's not meant to be bad
An Australian decrypts the North Germans
North Germans are cool and closed? For Liv Hambrett everything only clichés. She explains on her blog how to properly understand North Germans.
The three most important words to communicate properly with North Germans: 'Moin', 'Jo!' and 'Mmmm'. This has at least writer Liv Hambrett noted when she fell in love with a North German, more precisely in a Kieler. For him she moved to Schleswig-Holstein and learned to decipher the North Germans . On her blog, she introduces all those curious to the mystery of the people of northern Germany.
Moin !: a greeting for the whole of northern Germany
For North Germans a term that is used several times a day. No matter what time of day or night. 'Moin' is always possible. That was also stated by Liv. Friends and family members are additionally with a 'Naaa?' welcomed. That means something like, 'How are you?' The typical answer in northern Germany to this addition: 'Naaaa?'
'Moin' is used throughout the north of Germany as a greeting. This includes Hamburg, Bremen and Nordfriesland as well as Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Jo !: one word many meanings
Liv Hambrett had to learn it first, as she herself admits. Others will have done the same. There is less talk in North Germany. 'Jo!' can be both affirmative, express consent, but also ending a conversation. With 'Jo' everything stays nice and uncomplicated. Waste words have no chance.
Mmmm: It's not meant to be bad
The first time Liv was confronted with the typical 'Mmmm' in Northern Germany, she was convinced her mother-in-law would not like her. But she was wrong. 'Mmmm' in Northern Germany is not meant to be pejorative. North Germans signal so approval, but also bring a conversation to the point. In the rarest cases it must be expected that after a 'Mmmm' still comes a great answer.
With this little insight into the behavior of people from northern Germany is quickly settled with the usual clichés. Liv Hambrett describes the North Germans not as cool and closed, but as open, direct and happy. This leads the Australian back to her sea air. One more reason to travel to northern Germany again and to get to the bottom of the prejudices?
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