The Side Effects of Endorphins

Well, maybe not

There is no exact number, but the English language contains over 1 million words according to Global Language Monitor. ( I would like to get a part-time job there ) However, the Oxford English Dictionary only includes around 171,000 words in current use, while a native speaker typically uses only about 20,000–30,000. The total count grows continuously with new entries.

Because the word I choose is not amongst these million. I choose the word

Lebensmittel

Lebensmittel is the German word for foodstuffs or groceries. It literally translates to “means of life” (Leben = life, Mittel = means) and is the standard term used for items you find in a grocery store.

So if you’re cruising the grocery store looking for vegetables and fruit, you and I are probably gonna get along. If you’re at the deli counter, ordering greasy fried pig, initially probably not as likely.

But if you walk up to me and start speaking German to me and ask

Wo sind die Oliven?

I’ll point at the olives and you may have to speak slower. Because it all started at the grocery store.

Gonna

I’m going to go off on a tangent here. How did a word such as this sneak into the million words. I know we speak that way, but hopefully don’t write that way.

Best Regards

Lebensmittel