Preparation for the World Cup 2006 – Section A.1
Section A: Intricacies of the German Language for International Soccer Fans, Lesson 1: German Surnames
Most German surnames have their roots in the Germanic middle ages. A name identified a specific person and later a group of persons; at first through verbal usage, it was later fixed through writing. The largest group and the most easily recognizable names are those derived from the vocation or profession of the first bearer. They tell you what the first bearer did for a living
A good example is the surname of FC Bayern Munich midfield player Bastian Schweinsteiger (18 caps for Germany). His surname "Schweinsteiger" is a compound word consisting of:
Schwein - a pig
Steiger - noun derived from the verb “steigen” – to climb, to mount, in this context used to indicate copulation (i.e. the stallion mounts the mare - der Hengst besteigt die Stute). Thus, the most appropriate translation would be something like pigstalker!
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3 Kommentare:
Is this fact or fiction? Does his surname really mean "pigmounter"? Does everybody in Germany know that?!
For sure it is true. Yes, his surname means that, and yes, every German understands it like that. Nobody would actually make a yoke about it, at least not in public, as strange surnames are quite common in Germany. But I`ve overheard several discussions about how one would explain the meaning of the surname to foreigners ...
The following comment by a native German speaker reached us per e-mail:
Actually for a proper translation of "pig copulator" you'd have to call him Schwein-BE-steiger. In his last name "Schweinsteiger" you have two parts: Schwein - pig - and "steiger" as in a person who "steigt", not "besteigt", which is the sexual act of mounting someone.. (thing?). So in this case "steigen" could mean anything from increase (index) to climb (mountain) or rising (fever).
His name is funny, but not THAT funny, and the immediate association for German speakers is not really pig copulator.
Seaman, the goalie, when pronounced, however always gave me a grin ... e.g. "Seaman's on his hands and knees…", "Seaman's coming out of his box ...", etc, etc, etc...
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