Photo by Wolfgang Kippes

The caption called this a sperlingskauz, which was translated to “Sparrow Owl.”

I’d never heard of a Sparrow Owl, but the EPO has a scientific name that is Latin for “Sparrow Owl” that I will assume is how it got its German name.

    • You@feddit.org
      0·
      3 months ago

      That’s one of my favourite ‘flat jokes’ (Flachwitze in German).

      • You@feddit.org
        0·
        3 months ago

        What is sitting in the tree and waving (hello/farewell)?

        A Huhu

        That’s not only a play on words. Uhu is the German word for GHO. By adding the H it turns into an interjection and word that’s used when people call out in greeting/to get another person’s attention. At the same time it’s how Germans imitate a GHO’s hoot - huhu.

      • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
        0·
        3 months ago

        Ah, I was finally able to figure out the “joke,” as I only got the “flat” earlier as I didn’t know “huhu.” I had just searched for “eulenwitz,” and this thing popped up a million times. I knew “uhu” but I was too tired yet to notice the extra H to figure it was a pun. I knew one of you would lead me to the answer though!

        For everyone not in on it:

        Was sitzt auf einem Baum und winkt? — Ein "Huhu“! What is sitting on a tree and waving? – A “Huhu”!

        Explanation: in German, “huhu” is a greeting, while “Uhu” signifies an “owl”

        From The Funniest One and Only Multi-Language Jokebook

        • You@feddit.org
          0·
          3 months ago

          You beat me to it! I also added an explanation in a comment. It’s quite cute :D

          • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
            0·
            3 months ago

            Your explanation has more details, so it’s still the better one.

            Plus you taught me about flat jokes, so I got to read a few more looking for the owl explanation.

        • pseudo@jlai.lu
          0·
          3 months ago

          That’s so nice. I’m saving that to read it latter. Thank you for sharing!

          • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
            0·
            3 months ago

            Some of those jokes are definitely flat, but it is nice getting insight to so many languages in a fun way.

            I was glad to have fun with the German lemmings like I have had fun trying French with you. Everyone is always expected to go to English to talk together, but it doesn’t need to be that way every time. It would do many good to have some experience in other languages.