heilige Kuh
The English phrase "holy cow" can be translated into German as heilige Kuh.
The term is an interjection.
Meaning: interjection (intj)
Did you know?
- While 'heilige Kuh' is a literal translation, a German speaker would never actually use it to express surprise. Using it might cause confusion as it sounds like you are describing an actual sacred animal rather than using an exclamation.
- To express surprise involving 'holy' in German, people often use Heiliger Bimbam, which is a much more common and playful way to react to something unexpected.
- The word Kuh shares an ancient root with the English word 'cow', both descending from the Proto-Indo-European root *gʷṓws.
Examples in context
- Krass! Hast du gesehen, wie groß dieser Kuchen ist?Holy cow! Did you see how big this cake is?
- Boah! Was für eine schöne Aussicht!Holy cow! What a beautiful view!
- Krass, Alter! Das Auto ist echt der Hammer!Holy cow, dude! That car is amazing!
Example conversation
Felix and Laura are looking at a huge cake.
- FelixHeilige Kuh, wie groß ist dieser Kuchen?Holy cow, how big is this cake?
- LauraEr ist für zwanzig Personen gedacht, Felix.It is meant for twenty people, Felix.
- FelixDas ist ja unglaublich!That is unbelievable!
- LauraKomm, wir probieren ein Stück.Come on, let's try a piece.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Kuh, CC BY-SA 4.0.
