• scaramobo
    40·
    4 months ago

    I would argue that the correct translation of Zeug is more like “thing”. Wagen would be “car” in the context of the cartoon. But then it wouldn’t sound absurd and their lowball attempt at humor wouldn’t work.

    • Bob@feddit.nl
      5·
      4 months ago

      Specifically a tool, like a Werkzeug for example.

      Edit: that’s what I get for commenting after only reading the first panel then, haha.

    • acockworkorange@mander.xyz
      2·
      3 months ago

      Agreed. Stoff would be the German for stuff. The Germans had a rocket propelled interceptor plane called the Komet, and its two parts of fuel were called C-Stoff and Z-Stoff.

      I imagine the military looking at the names for the things and going “yeah, we need to dumb it down for our grunts.”