Keine Ruh' dem Sünder
The English phrase "no rest for the wicked" can be translated into German as Keine Ruh' dem Sünder.
This is a proverb used to suggest that people who are wicked must work harder. While the English expression refers to the "wicked," the German idiom specifically uses Sünder (sinner) to convey the same proverbial meaning.
Meaning: people who are wicked must work harder (proverb)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to "No rest to the sinner".
Did you know?
- In German, the word Sünder (sinner) can be used as a playful or mild reproach among friends, similar to calling someone a 'rascal' in English, without implying actual evil.
- The grammatical structure of dem Sünder makes the phrase sound like a legal decree or a sentence being handed down to the person.
- The German Sünder and English 'sinner' are direct linguistic relatives, both descending from the Proto-Germanic word *sundārijaz.
Example conversation
Julia and Felix are staying late at the office.
- JuliaFelix, willst du jetzt endlich Feierabend machen?Felix, do you want to finally finish work for the day?
- FelixNein, ich muss diesen Bericht noch fertigschreiben.No, I still have to finish writing this report.
- JuliaKeine Ruh' dem Sünder, was?No rest for the wicked, huh?
- FelixGenau, ich habe mir das selbst ausgesucht.Exactly, I chose this for myself.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Sünder, CC BY-SA 4.0.
