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  2. German to English

Ich bin Berliner

English translation: I am a Berliner

21:31 Aug 17, 2001
German to English translations [Non-PRO]
German term or phrase: Ich bin Berliner
Political speech
Paul March
English translation:I am a Berliner
Explanation:
Again this line came from Kennedys' speech at the Berlin Wall in 1962. He actually said, "Ich bin ein Berliner" which means literally in English, "I am a donut" (Berliner = Jelly Donut), but he meant to say that he was a Berliner. This was to signify the solidarity of America with the struggle for a free Berlin.
Selected response from:

mtrent1
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
na +3I am a Berliner
mtrent1
na +1Ich bin ein Berliner
Uschi (Ursula) Walke


  

Answers


23 mins peer agreement (net): +3
I am a Berliner


Explanation:
Again this line came from Kennedys' speech at the Berlin Wall in 1962. He actually said, "Ich bin ein Berliner" which means literally in English, "I am a donut" (Berliner = Jelly Donut), but he meant to say that he was a Berliner. This was to signify the solidarity of America with the struggle for a free Berlin.

mtrent1
PRO pts in pair: 34

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  gdleigh
10 mins
agree  beermatt: I wonder why R. Reagan, on a visit ti Hamburg, could not be persuaded to repeat Kennedy's famous phrase....
2 hrs
  -> I don't know why. I think that it would have been a fitting comment
agree  DR. RICHARD BAVRY (X): Ja! As in "Ich bin ein Hamburger"..where's the beef?
2 days 3 hrs
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6 hrs peer agreement (net): +1
Ich bin ein Berliner


Explanation:
this was a statement made by JFK on 26 June 63, meant to encourage the people of Berlin as well as all Germans.

America was to a great deal responsible for the recovery of Germany and eventually the Wirtschaftswunder.

But, to clarify the joke (which I don't like):

A Berliner is not a doughnut. It's a solid round piece of cake in the shape of a dinner-roll, made of the same dough as a doughnut. A nice helping of jam has been injected into the centre.

That's a Berliner, and of course, this little piece of pastry has given more cause to make silly jokes about John F. Kennedy, after he was murdered.

Anyway, this is a very well documented historical statement, please don't try to translate it!

HTH










Uschi (Ursula) Walke
Local time: 00:19
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in pair: 492

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  DR. RICHARD BAVRY (X): Far be it from me to poke holes in a pastry!
1 day 21 hrs
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