Beautiful German Words
Ohrwurm
OHR-voorm
That song stuck on loop in your head has a perfect German name.
What it means
An Ohrwurm — literally “ear worm” — is a catchy tune that lodges in your head and refuses to leave. English now borrows the calque “earworm,” but Germans had it first.
It is Ohr (ear) + Wurm (worm): a delightfully vivid image of a melody burrowing into your brain and setting up home.
In real sentences
Dieses Lied ist ein echter Ohrwurm.
This song is a real earworm.
This song is a real earworm.
Ich habe den ganzen Tag einen Ohrwurm.
I’ve had a song stuck in my head all day.
I’ve had a song stuck in my head all day.
Word family
Wurm (worm) also gives Bandwurm (tapeworm) and, figuratively, Bandwurmsatz — a “tapeworm sentence” that runs on forever. German humour in a single word.
Want to drop words like this naturally into conversation? Practise with a friendly native tutor on italki.
Find a tutor on italki →