The Pappenheimers: from Schiller to today's phrase!

The Pappenheimers: from Schiller to today's phrase!

Pappenheim, Bayern, Deutschland - The term "Pappenheimer" has firmly established itself in German language use and is often used to describe familiar people. In particular, the phrase "I know my Pappenheimer" is well known. This expression can be used with both a wink and in a critical tone. It refers to the behavior of people whose weaknesses or negative patterns are known in a certain environment. According to T-Online , the use of this phrase is sufficient until 1799.

referred to as "Pappenheimer" is someone whose misconduct is neither surprisingly nor unknown. These people often embody a well -known or expected negative behavior. While the phrase can express skepticism, it also contains leniency. It is used for both known people and for strangers in groups.

origin and meaning

The origins of the phrase are due to Friedrich Schiller's drama trilogy "Wallenstein". The character of Albrecht von Wallenstein, a general of the Thirty Years' War, is introduced in this work. In the piece, Wallenstein says the sentence "I recognize my Pappenheimers", which symbolizes that he recognizes his loyal soldiers. These "Pappenheimers" were actually an elitist troop from the Região Pappenheim in Bavaria, which was valued for their loyalty. Pappenheim has around 3900 inhabitants today and is wearing a historical heritage.

This saying is called a winged word, a term that comes from linguistics. Winged words are expressions whose origin is known and which are often used in everyday language. Another example of a winged word is "that fits the fist on the eye", which can be interpreted in different contexts. As swr often express such expressions a general perception, whereby they often communicate negative expectations in today's language.

The development of the term

In the course of time, the meaning of the expression "I know my Pappenheimers" has changed. First of all, he embodied the knowledge of the loyal behavior of the troops in Schiller's work, but was increasingly associated with distrust and negative assumptions. This development reflects the dynamics of proverbs and idioms that develop their own connotations over time and often ironically used, as those described in the wikipedia

The fascination of such expressions lies in its ability to bundle complex thoughts and experiences in concise formulations. They are not only part of the German language, but also a mirror of their cultural history and the way language has changed over the centuries.