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Bauernregeln • Humor
Humorous German Folk Sayings

An annotated German-English Glossary
of German Sayings and Folk Wisdom

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German Idioms > Bauernregeln > Bauernregeln Parodies

Humor: Introduction
Bauernregeln are a frequent target of parody. There is a special category one could call lustige Bauernregeln ("humorous folk sayings"), although many would call them more corny than funny. Below is a sampling.

Bauerngregeln > A-D | E-I | J-P | Q-Z


Lustige Bauernregeln

Beim Dreschen laß das Rauchen sein,
sonst atmest du den Brandrauch ein.

Don't smoke when you're threshing,
otherwise you'll be breathing in fire's smoke.

Fliegt der Bauer übers Dach,
ist der Wind weiß Gott nicht schwach.

If the farmer over the roof is flying,
God only knows the wind's not dying.

Fährt der Bauer raus zum Jauchen,
wird er nachts ein Deo brauchen.

If the farmer goes out to spread manure,
he'll need deodorant that night.

Ist's zu Sylvester hell und klar,
ist am nächsten Tag Neujahr.

If it's bright and clear on New Year's Eve,
the next day will be New Year's.

Kräht der Hahn am Mist,
ändert sich's Wetter oder es bleibt wie's ist.

If the rooster crows on the manure pile,
the weather will change or stay as it is.

Liegt der Bauer unterm Tisch,
war das Essen nimmer frisch!

If the farmer's lying under the table,
the food wasn't really fresh!

Mischt der Bauer Gift zur Butter,
ist sie für die Schwiegermutter.

If the farmer mixes poison into the butter,
it's for his mother-in-law.

Raucht die Kuh wie ein Kamin,
gab's 'nen Kurzschluss in der Melkmaschin'!

If the cow's smoking like a chimney,
there was a short in the milking machine!

Siacht ma den Bauern im Stausee nimma,
woas ma, er kau net schwimma!

Don't ever look for the farmer in the lake
you know he can't even swim!

Fällt der Bauer tot von seinem Traktor,
strahlt in der Nähe ein Reaktor.

If the farmer falls dead from his tractor,
nearby radiates a (nuclear) reactor.

Wenn es nachts im Bette kracht,
der Bauer seine Erben macht.

When the bed at night is shaking,
the farmer his heirs is making.

Wenn's zu Silvester stürmt und schneit,
ist das neue Jahr nicht weit.

If it's storming and snowy on New Year's Eve,
then New Year's not far off.


BACK > Bauernregeln A-D | E-I | J-P | Q-Z

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