I love how when Germans want to make a new word, they just add two existing words together and create an entirely new concept. This happens in English (and I'm sure other languages) as well, but it doesn't seem to be near as common -- or as effective -- as it is in German.
Here's a list of my ten favorite German compound words (most of them are commonly used in English):
In no particular order:
1.) wunderkind (literally "wonder child," a prodigy)
2.) gegenuber (literally "against over," meaning across from)
3.) blitzkrieg (literally "lightning war")
4.) doppelganger (literally "double goer")
5.) dummkopf (literally "dumb head")
6.) rinderpest (literally "cattle plague," the name of a cattle plague)
7.) schadenfreude (literally "harm joy," happiness at someone else's misfortune)
8.) ubermensch (literally "super man")
9.) schlitterbahn (literally "water road," the name of a waterpark in Texas)
10.) wanderlust (literally "travel desire")
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