Explanation: Germans used to (apparently only in my bubble) call cellphones “Handy” and many people still do that. My friends from america found that quite hilarious.

  • Netto HikariOP
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    11 year ago

    I feel that mostly older folks still use the term? Maybe it’s just my friends and I. Ever since I realized what it means in english-speaking countries, I stopped saying it.

    Maybe, I’m wrong. But again, I rarely hear the term “Handy” any more.

    • @[email protected]
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      21 year ago

      Ever since I realized what it means in english-speaking countries, I stopped saying it.

      Why? Why would it matter what a word means if interpreted via another language? I mean, you go ahead and do what you want, I don’t care, but I’d like to understand the reasoning behind that.

      • Netto HikariOP
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        11 year ago

        Because I use english during most of the day. Many of my friends are from abroad and only speak english. I consume a lot of content in english, etc.

        And in German, I’d even prefer Mobiltelefon over Handy. Ever since I know that “Handy” could be interpreted as “Handjob” in the US, it feels really stupid to use this word. To me, the word now feels like a “boomer invention” and even though it’s in the Duden, I don’t consider it to be correct any more. At least for my own language. There are several words in the German and English languages that fit better.

        I don’t understand why it’d be hard to understand that.

        • @[email protected]
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          21 year ago

          It’s not “hard to understand”, I was just interested in your reasons because I thought it was curious. I still don’t agree that it’s a big deal - I also consume mostly English-language media and most of my communication online is in English but I’m still typing this on my Handybildschirm. But you do you.

          Sent from my Handy.

        • @marron12
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          11 year ago

          FWIW, “handy” in the sense of “handjob” isn’t that common (U.S., over 25). I mostly hear it and use it in the sense of “useful, good to have or know.” That’s pretty handy, that could come in handy.

          Plus, I can’t imagine I would ever interpret Handy as a handjob if you pronounced it the German way (Hendy). I would just go “huh” because that doesn’t register as a word in English. I’ve been told that the vowels in the German Handy and the English handy sound really similar to native German speakers. But as a native English speaker, they’re worlds apart.

          Not trying to change your mind or anything. Just thought I’d give you a different perspective.

          • Netto HikariOP
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            1 year ago

            Just stating what my US american friend from MA and his entire family said to me.

            Edit: Also, not talking about something being handy, I’m talking about “a handy”.