
Originally Posted by
Duck on Wheels
My maternal grandfather's favorite was the German word for tank:
schutzengrabenvernichtungsautomobil
(artillery trench destroying vehicle)
He said it illustrated how the language had been a factor in the Germans losing both world wars. Just compare the time it takes to give the same order in German and English:
Send tanks!
Bie mir die schutzengrabenvernichtungsautomobils gesenden! (or something like that, I don't actually know German)
Waffenstillenstahentag (it's been years since I studied German, so I may have misspelled that). If I remember correctly, it is Armistice Day - literally, The Day the Weapons Stood Still.
But if I get to pick a name as my favorite word? Vercingetorix.
It just rolls off your tongue. I SO want to name our next dog Vercingetorix, but it might be a little tough in obedience school!
Melior victus per venenum