German Secrets - Achtung to Zeitgeist

Achtung ! (p. 10)

Thanks to Hollywood films, comic strips, and the Rock Band U2, the German word “Achtung !” is now firmly embedded in the English language. And what a useful, life-saving word it can be. So much more concise and precise than its English cousins “Watch out !”, “Be careful !” or “Pay heed, kind Sir !” If a light-flashing Porsche is bearing down on you at 240 kph, you don‘t want to mess around with unnecessary syllables. Of course, we do use the word “attention” but never in the context of giving a warning or caution.

The following wordplay joke, originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4, has even been known to raise a smile in Germany. Tell it carefully: A German farmer walks across a field, slips over in the mud, and falls face down into a cow pat. Rising to his feet, the only thing he can say is “Ach ! Dung !”