Arte: Only Germans Know True Solitude: Mutterseelenallein

Have you ever felt "mutterseelenallein"? If you want to share that situation feel free to do so in the comments below or the Community.

Video Summary

  • Some words, like "allein" (alone), are inherently non-comparative in the German language.
  • Objectively, "allein" cannot be intensified grammatically, but subjectively, feelings of solitude can vary in intensity.
  • There's a distinction between grammar and real-life emotions, or between logic and psychology.
  • German has a term, "mutterseelenallein," to express profound loneliness or complete abandonment.
  • "Mutterseelenallein" conveys a sense of being forsaken by the most protective figure in life, the mother, and even life itself.
  • It's intriguing to contemplate who might have coined such an evocative term, but words typically emerge organically.
  • The origin of "mutterseelenallein" traces back to Berlin, influenced by the French language.
  • In the 17th and 18th centuries, French Protestants (Huguenots) sought exile in Berlin and Brandenburg.
  • They often used the term "moi tout seul" which was adopted and adapted by the Berliners.
  • Over time, the phrase evolved, and "moi tout seul allein" became "mutterseelenallein," a uniquely poignant word in the German language.

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