Comments on: There is no word in German for “small talk” https://www.isegoria.net/2011/06/there-is-no-word-in-german-for-small-talk/ From the ancient Greek for equality in freedom of speech; an eclectic mix of thoughts, large and small Fri, 01 May 2026 09:53:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6.1 By: Isegoria https://www.isegoria.net/2011/06/there-is-no-word-in-german-for-small-talk/comment-page-1/#comment-252486 Isegoria Mon, 13 Jun 2011 21:26:33 +0000 http://www.isegoria.net/?p=25101#comment-252486 By the way, I confirmed this with an East German friend — but a Ph.D. in a STEM field may not be a representative sample when it comes to small talk.

]]> By: Chris https://www.isegoria.net/2011/06/there-is-no-word-in-german-for-small-talk/comment-page-1/#comment-246923 Chris Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:55:48 +0000 http://www.isegoria.net/?p=25101#comment-246923 You may wish to mention that the Germans have a polite “vous” form of their language.

To the question “how do I look in this dress,” the answer “fat” is completely acceptable and completely polite if said in the “vous” form. Clearly not so in English: dissembling is required in English.

So, given the “vous” form, the Germans do not need small talk to be polite to someone.

— Chris

P.S. Remember, no jokes during business meetings with Germans!

]]>