[General] Re: haufrau

[thedaffodils]

Hi! Could someone please answer my questions that follow?

Q1: Is hausfrau a slang word?

Q2: I heard an American said that. I am wondering whether most native people outside the US understand and use it.

Thanks!

[jamiep]

It's not slang. It's a German word but it wouldn't normally be used in the UK at least. Not sure if it's used in the US though.

[thedaffodils]

Hi Jamiep,

Thank you for your answer.

[BobK]

Originally Posted by jamiep

It's not slang. It's a German word but it wouldn't normally be used in the UK at least. Not sure if it's used in the US though.

I'm sure it would, if only because of German immigrants, who've had a huge effect on Am English in other ways: bei mir - "by me" (in "OK by me") [I've even heard it suggested that 'outtasight' (meaning 'excellent') is derived from ausgezeichnet, but the author didn't present this as the gospel truth]; the persistence of the subjunctive; the grammar of informal conditionals....

In Br English it would only be used in a German context, for local colour.

b

[thedaffodils]

Hi BobK,

Thank you for your answer.