German · Hand Gestures (Mind the Law) · hand gesture
die Zunge rausstrecken
Nyah-nyah — childish defiance / mockery
1/5 Grandma-safe
mild, playful; fine on daytime TV
The gesture
"Stick your tongue out at someone."
What your hand is actually doing.
How to use it
Not even really an insult — the playground gesture of cheeky defiance, forever associated with the Einstein photo. Harmless from a child, faintly comic from an adult. Listed so you don't over-read it: if a five-year-old does this to you at the Bäckerei, you have not been gravely offended.
Heard in the wild
Das Kind hat mir die Zunge rausgestreckt.
The kid stuck their tongue out at me.
Where it lands
Germany, Austria, Switzerland — universal, playful
Quick answers
- What does "die Zunge rausstrecken" mean?
- In German, "die Zunge rausstrecken" means "Nyah-nyah — childish defiance / mockery". Literally it's "Stick your tongue out at someone.". Not even really an insult — the playground gesture of cheeky defiance, forever associated with the Einstein photo. Harmless from a child, faintly comic from an adult. Listed so you don't over-read it: if a five-year-old does this to you at the Bäckerei, you have not been gravely offended.
- Is "die Zunge rausstrecken" offensive?
- It's on the mild end — 1/5 (Grandma-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. mild, playful; fine on daytime TV.
- How do you pronounce "die Zunge rausstrecken"?
- This one's a hand gesture — there's nothing to pronounce. Stick your tongue out at someone..
Related in German
einen Vogel zeigen gesture You've got a screw loose / you're insane Scheibenwischer gesture You're completely nuts / your brain isn't working Stinkefinger gesture The finger — up yours Quatsch! KVATCH Nonsense! / Rubbish! / No way! Arsch ARSH Arse / ass — and the second great compound-engine of German Halt die Klappe! HALT dee KLAP-uh Shut your trap! / Shut up!
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