Dummkopf used in English?

[Torsten]

Hi,

I think I've just heard the word 'dummkopf' on CNN radio which happened to be playing the background and there was this report about a guy in Germany who made some kind of stupid mistake.

So, is does the word 'dummkopf' make any sense to English native speakers?

Many thanks,
Torsten

TOEFL listening lectures: A lecture from an arts class

[Molly]

If you read war comics, it does.

[Skrej]

Hah, I've never heard this word, outside of usage by German speakers. The only reason it makes any sense to me is because I learned it, along with some pithier insults in German.

However, I'd say it's not widely understood or used in English. I'd guess that somebody on the report either spoke some German, or did a bit of research to 'spice up' or 'authenticate' their report.
_________________
Plan to be spontaneous tomorrow.
***
Did you hear they arrested the Energizer Bunny on battery charges?
***

[Torsten]

Hi Skrej,

The interesting things is that many online dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster, the Urban Dictionary or Answers.com have a 'dummkopf' entry.

TOEFL listening lectures: A lecture from a social sciences class

[Ralf]

Hi Torsten,

Dictionaries have many interesting entries. Only yesterday I learnt that Americans say 'acclimate' if they refer to the process of acclimatisation.
_________________
Test of English as a Foreign Language
TOEFL Preparation & TOEFL Vocabulary
Learn more: How to Become an English Teacher

[Torsten]

[Yankee]

.
I deleted my earlier post because Torsten didn't actually seem interested. :?

The word "dummkopf" is one that I had heard used in English long before I ever learned German or relocated to Germany. I grew up in an area that had lots of German immigration, so it's not at all surprising that I've heard this word used in my neck of the woods. People around here don't usually pronounce the "p", though.

In this area it's also not uncommon to hear people say "Gesundheit" rather than "Bless you" when someone sneezes.
.
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Torsten]

Hi Amy,

Fortunately enough I'm not the only person who is interested in this discussion.

TOEFL listening lectures: A lecture from a life sciences class

[Yankee]

.
Yes, that's why I reposted.
.
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Molly]

[Barb_D]

When I was growing up, I certainly heard dummkopf, though I would have had no idea how to spell it! (Most people know what "kopf" means - or at least they did where I was from. They seem to enjoy pairing it with a the German word that means something that you deposit in the toilet. I have no idea if anyone in Germany uses that pairing!)

Now that you mention it, though, I haven't heard it in a while.

[Mister Micawber]

.
Commonly enough heard in my younger days at least-- Hogan's Heroes, a popular TV comedy series (1965-71), was probably at least partly responsible.
.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's