This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
Topfschlagen im Heuhaufen“, „Lebe, Lache, Spiele“, „toben-raufen-sausen-brausen
migebracht werden
Aug 7, 2004 15:06
20 yrs ago
2 viewers *
German term

Balkonien

German to English Social Sciences Tourism & Travel
Public balconis where people come together to barbecue and party. Is there any equivalent in english?
Proposed translations (English)
4 +11 in their own backyard
4 +2 porches
3 +1 balcony land or land of balcony
3 +1 mezzanine
3 balconies
3 Balconia
2 stay at home and relax on one's own balcony

Discussion

Stefanie Sendelbach Aug 7, 2004:
Hi Helga, where did you get the �public balconies� from? Do they appear in your text?
Kevin Pfeiffer (X) Aug 7, 2004:
(Sorry, ignore my prev. comment, was not paying attention!)
Kevin Pfeiffer (X) Aug 7, 2004:
It would help if you could be more specific as to what this is or where it's found. I, for example, am picturing a housing project or student housing, etc. where one would like to have a place (which is shared) to hold barbecues.

Proposed translations

+11
15 mins
Selected

in their own backyard

Urlaub in Balkonien: Balkonien is an imaginary country which happens to be right on your balcony. It's a euphemisn for spending your vacation at home instead of travelling. Incidentally, the country's favorite wine is "Chateau de la pompe".

I'm not aware of a similar expression in English, mainly because the concept of travelling abroad for "real" vacations doesn't exist in the US.
Peer comment(s):
agree Thomas Bollmann
4 mins
neutral Kevin Pfeiffer (X) : But how do you get "balcony" (assuming this really is what is meant) out of backyard? // Okay, now I see that you are specifically addressing "Urlaub in Balkonien" (sorry about the confusion).
5 mins
The balcony doesn't really matter, it's staying at home what counts.
agree Trudy Peters
18 mins
agree Stefanie Sendelbach : This is also my interpretation of "Balkonien". What I don´t understand is helga´s reference to public balconies.
28 mins
agree RNolder (X) : yes I think this would be our U.S. English equivalent since most of us only have backyards rather than balconies.
47 mins
agree Kim Metzger : Another term where the standard dicos are of no help.
1 hr
agree NGK
1 hr
agree KathyAnna O : agree with Klaus
2 hrs
agree Will Matter : that's funny, this American has been on quite a few 'real' vacations (Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, France, Spain, Japan, Mexico, Canada, every state in the U.S., among others).
2 hrs
agree Derek Gill Franßen
3 hrs
agree Christine Lam
8 hrs
agree Olaf
18 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Graded automatically based on peer agreement."
6 mins

balconies

galleries, mezzanines, balustrades, upper porches ....
some of the possibilities
Reference:

http://wwww.hyperdictionary.com

Peer comment(s):
neutral Kevin Pfeiffer (X) : Except for balustrade: " a railing at the side of a staircase or balcony to prevent people from falling."
8 mins
Something went wrong...
+1
8 mins

balcony land or land of balcony

Found these references on Google, but have never really heard them used.
Reference:

http://www.cantows.de/sundial/balkon.htm

hmembres.lycos.fr/manusemper/semp-cult.htm

Peer comment(s):
agree Christine Slattery : this is an old play on words, people who could not afford to travel abroad would claim to take their vacation in Balkonien
5 mins
neutral Kevin Pfeiffer (X) : This I only know from the German. Is it really used in one or more of the "Englishes"?
8 mins
neutral Klaus Herrmann : I'm not sure this expression is understood outside of Germany?
8 mins
neutral RNolder (X) : U.S. native and I've never heard it.
50 mins
Something went wrong...
+1
9 mins

mezzanine

mezzanine
Definition:1. [n] intermediate floor just above the ground floor
2. [n] first or lowest balcony


http://www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/mezzanine
Peer comment(s):
agree RNolder (X) : I think this is what you need for 'public balcony'
1 hr
neutral Nancy Arrowsmith : barbecueing on a mezzanine???
1 hr
Good point. Klaus has the answer.
Something went wrong...
+2
1 hr

porches

in the sense of 'veranda' is a place where you might have social gatherings. But the porch of a house is privately owned, not a 'public' balcony.
Peer comment(s):
agree NGK
25 mins
agree Will Matter : also acceptable in this context.
1 hr
Something went wrong...
4 hrs

stay at home and relax on one's own balcony

according to Duden-Oxford
Something went wrong...
4 hrs

Balconia

Why not just use "Balconia"? It is, as already mentioned, an imaginary country. So I think Balonia would be perfect.
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search