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Sick feelings

I suffer from hay fever, so while in Germany, I wanted to get some antihistamines. I went to a chemist and said: Ich habe eine Polenallergie to which the chemist reacted with a suspicious look. I actually said that I'm allergic to Polish people! I should have said: Ich habe eine Pollenallergie, I'm allergic to pollen. Only one 'l' more! The difference in pronunciation is quite small (Pollen - short o, Polen - long o), but the message is quite a different one!

Sent by: Bryan

Comments

Tom 2006-07-26

To use your phraseology you could have said: Ich habe eine Blumenstauballergie, Blumenstaub being the correct German word for pollen, which is English, although understood by most Germans.

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Lyn 2006-06-04

You can use the word Heuschnupfen for hay fever which could avoid confusion.

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