Heh, I was thinking of Norwegian småkake. It’s crazy how much Danish I can read in posts around here now that I’m learning bokmål Norwegian. Well, not that surprising with history, I guess, heh.
In German, it’s diminutive, but it’s not from ‘cake’. I think it means little discs/plates or something, but it’s been a long time.
You’re thinking of German “Plätzchen” which is reserved for “special” cookies on Christmas and such. The English word “cookie” more directly corresponds to “Keks” and has at least the same origin, if it’s not from “cookie”.
I honestly couldn’t explain the difference between “Plätzchen” and “Keks” but I know it when I see it. There’s something more “refined” about Plätzchen. Might be about the ingredients? Oh no that’s a rabbithole in i go been nice knowing y-
Edit: I see there’s a difference in how these terms are used in the various German-speaking areas. I’m from Germany so the above is my perspective.
Edit2: okay, more of a mole hole than a rabbithole. Think of the difference between cup cakes and muffins. Plätzchen are to Kekse what cup cakes are to muffins. The term “Keks” came into German through English sailors and their very simple, long-life food supplies.
Edit3: oh also, “Plätzchen” is ultimately from Latin placenta. Yay.
Hah, nice! Thanks for the deep-dive. I only ever learnt Plätzchen when I studied German in the early 2000s in the US. At least so far as I can remember 20-something years later.
I considered learning Danish, but thought I might start with something a bit more pronounceable (I do not have faith in mastering stød or the various sounds very quickly).
Why would you even consider this kind of masochism?
Danish is my native language, I recognize that it’s a complete mess!
Anyways, the Norwegians are nice. Some of our favourite people, I would say
Heh, I was thinking of Norwegian småkake. It’s crazy how much Danish I can read in posts around here now that I’m learning bokmål Norwegian. Well, not that surprising with history, I guess, heh.
In German, it’s diminutive, but it’s not from ‘cake’. I think it means little discs/plates or something, but it’s been a long time.
You’re thinking of German “Plätzchen” which is reserved for “special” cookies on Christmas and such. The English word “cookie” more directly corresponds to “Keks” and has at least the same origin, if it’s not from “cookie”.
I honestly couldn’t explain the difference between “Plätzchen” and “Keks” but I know it when I see it. There’s something more “refined” about Plätzchen. Might be about the ingredients? Oh no that’s a rabbithole in i go been nice knowing y-
Edit: I see there’s a difference in how these terms are used in the various German-speaking areas. I’m from Germany so the above is my perspective.
Edit2: okay, more of a mole hole than a rabbithole. Think of the difference between cup cakes and muffins. Plätzchen are to Kekse what cup cakes are to muffins. The term “Keks” came into German through English sailors and their very simple, long-life food supplies.
Edit3: oh also, “Plätzchen” is ultimately from Latin placenta. Yay.
Hah, nice! Thanks for the deep-dive. I only ever learnt Plätzchen when I studied German in the early 2000s in the US. At least so far as I can remember 20-something years later.
Norwegian is essentially Hick Danish
I considered learning Danish, but thought I might start with something a bit more pronounceable (I do not have faith in mastering stød or the various sounds very quickly).
Why would you even consider this kind of masochism? Danish is my native language, I recognize that it’s a complete mess! Anyways, the Norwegians are nice. Some of our favourite people, I would say
Well, I went from English (a mess) to japanese (differently a mess), so there is some masochistic aspect in there.