I'm starting to forget English words. Just today, I was struggling for a word (noun) for the little nibbles you get served at some functions e.g. at an art gallery exhibition and waiters bring around trays of these fancy little buggers.

Anyone else forgotten words? If so, maybe you can describe the word and we can guess what it is...

EDIT: the word was Canapé, I guess it's more of an imported 'English' word.

Yup - forget words on a regular basis, which can be a bit embarrassing for a practising linguist.
Don't know if it's my age or the fact that I've been here for simply ages......so if I can't remember the English word, then I automatically substitute the Swiss German one!

Yep I forget english words all the time, sometimes I even have trouble putting a particular sentence together. Also sometimes I write with a mixture of english and german together, or i'll spell an english word the german way (if it's a similar word). I'm a little concerned We my end up somewhere in the middle of german and english....how horrible!

Welcome to the wonderful world of Gerglish, soon,as your language skills improve you will not even know when it happens.
I had a brit friend over a while back and he had brought along his mate fresh off the plane, we spoke Gerglish and "mate" understood maybe every third word.
It's fun.

It happens all the time. It's called "getting old"

I tried that before, but it didn't really seem to help

Ex-GF (ch) and I (uk) got into the habit of not just dropping a word in, but also flipping from one language to the other when one couldn't think of the correct word in the "current" language. Used to get some strange looks from people overhearing it happening.
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We do it too, terrible habit. Doesn't help that Mr L works in English whereas I worked in German. I even write emails like that - I start in German and swap to English or vice versa.

I almost always have at least one dictionary to hand and Leo or Google open to translate when I'm writing on here. I often cannot remember the English word which I need.
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In my case, it is sure GG's reason too. Old age creeping on...

Reminds me of the Monty Python Alzheimers answering machine sketch...

Hi, you have reached the alzheimers research um..a..labortory...no, uh...laboramy...labotamy...no...oh anyway, the place thingy where we study...um, what was it? anyway, if you wish to leave a...oh gosh, what was it?...um...a...a menasiotois, no if you wish to leave a...oh, please speak after the uh...the um...the bath...no the, the, the...Beep!

When I talk English to Swiss I usually throw in a German word or to as not to interrupt the flow - and get very irritated when that puzzled look crosses their face.

My kids have started something similar - "Bring me the towel", "Ich weiss nicht wo der Towel ist"

But while German has some seriously great words one thing I like about this forum is that - in the middle of expounding some meaningless semi-philosophical drivel - you get to use words you wouldn't normally use any more - anxious, astute, keen, expounding, come to think of it.

I'm forgetting English words too! Plus my grammar is absolutely atrocious! I noticed that by adopting American English pronunciation for some words and using incorrect English grammar, my colleagues/friends were able to better understand me. Problem is.. it stuck! Now I just sound like and idiot

No comment.


Sorry, that was nasty! Bad Mod!

There's a word for this syndrome, but I can't recall what it is.

I should really do some work!!! In the meantime, this also came to mind from some time ago.

Have to say that I found this too - the forgetting words. I used to do alright with crosswords. I couldn't do one to save my life now. It really is to do with the limited exposure to English vocab and after 10 years in CH, it starts to take its toll.

That said, fully agree with HTD's comment here. Since finding the EF last December, I've found that my English language use has improved in everyday life. Seeing other's quick/clever/downright arsy (i.e. funny) comments and (correct) use of the English language, has, I believe, reinvigorated by own language skills - not to mention when I'm trying to be particurlarly clever/downright arsy (not so funny) myself I often double check to make sure I'm using the language correctly

I've got almost the same thing, but in my case I forget French words and use English ones.......which is finally not very useful....

I can't imagine what will happen if I become a fluent English speaker once....

Maybe now you can attempt the crosswords I compose. June's will be ready soon, but it's quite taking time to write it as I've made it fairly complicated.

Yeah, but you do those cripto... crypta... criptik... criptick... them darned difficult ones

Pah. Philistine. Everyone knows they're called horses doovers.

Merci buckets!