??? 02/21/07 15:47 Read: times |
#133442 - most common usage ... Responding to: ???'s previous message |
While "der Hund" (the dog) is gender-masculine, "die Katze" (the cat) is gender-feminine. Both are animals, and "das Tier" (the animal) is gender-neutral. Go figure.
The most common usage in American English, of the term "bitch" is in combination with "son-of-a..." This is not a common sort of expression in German. That makes it difficult to draw a parallel. In fact, Europeans have a mode of speech that is not found in English. It's called "Shimpfen" which means something on the order of "fussing" in English, but is essentially a way of vigorous and emotional, as well as quite personal, complaining, without any sort of cursing or vulgarity. Unfortunately it's been lost in English, so Americans can't vent at one another without becoming profane. RE |