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05.01.2011, 12:31
|  | Junior Member | | Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: London, UK
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| | Zweimal Kaffee?
Hi Guys,
I've noticed that whilst ordering two of anything (coffees for example), often the waitress/er asks "zweimal Kaffee?" Is this usual? I thought zweimal meant "twice"?
Cheers
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05.01.2011, 12:32
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| | Re: Zweimal Kaffee? | Quote: | |  | | | Hi Guys,
I've noticed that whilst ordering two of anything (coffees for example), often the waitress/er asks "zweimal Kaffee?" Is this usual? I thought zweimal meant "twice"?
Cheers | | | | | comes from zwei mal
two times.
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05.01.2011, 12:36
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| | Re: Zweimal Kaffee?
Yup, it's normal. Confused me at first too though.
I assume it's "zweimal" because she has to write it down "zweimal." In many restaurants it will appear on your bill "zweimal" too (i.e. not "2x Kaffee = 9.00" but "Kaffee 4.50, Kaffee 4.50")
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05.01.2011, 12:37
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| | Re: Zweimal Kaffee?
Thanks Guys.
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05.01.2011, 12:41
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| | Re: Zweimal Kaffee?
Lesson 1: keine Mehrzahl... | The following 6 users would like to thank Treverus for this useful post: | | 
05.01.2011, 14:00
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| | Re: Zweimal Kaffee? | Quote: | |  | | | Thanks Guys. | | | | | I think waiters have developped their own language, not only here but almost anywhere.
I just can't think of an example but it makes mostly sense only to them. | 
05.01.2011, 14:57
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| | Re: Zweimal Kaffee?
I just don't get this - if you're ordering something 'zweimal', you are ordering something twice aren't you? What's the difference in ordering coffee twice (so one coffee for each person) and ordering two coffees (so, again, one coffee for each person)?
I orginally learnt German a long long time ago  , so perhaps that's why I'm just not seeing something...
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05.01.2011, 15:01
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| | Re: Zweimal Kaffee? | Quote: | |  | | | I just don't get this - if you're ordering something 'zweimal', you are ordering something twice aren't you? What's the difference in ordering coffee twice (so one coffee for each person) and ordering two coffees (so, again, one coffee for each person)?
I orginally learnt German a long long time ago , so perhaps that's why I'm just not seeing something... | | | | | No difference at all - you can order "zwei Kaffee" and be understood perfectly, and you're right, it is exactly the same order. But the waiter will probably repeat it back to you as "zweimal Kaffee" all the same.
We're not the only ones confused by this, by the looks of it: http://www.gutefrage.net/frage/wird-...ee-geschrieben | 
05.01.2011, 15:09
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| | Re: Zweimal Kaffee?
I ran into a Swiss guy in the US last year, who was trying to order "twice coffee" at a Peet's. I was so excited to be able to to translate for the barista | This user would like to thank spinach for this useful post: | | 
05.01.2011, 15:19
| | Re: Zweimal Kaffee?
When the waitress says zweimal?
You should answer, "Nein nur zwei Kaffee bitte, nicht vier"
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05.01.2011, 15:34
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| | Re: Zweimal Kaffee?
I've also heard "Einmal Kaffee" (well not actually Kaffee, and it will have been "Eimol", but the principle is the same).
P.S. English is even more confusing.
I can walk into my local chippy and say "Twice please" and be understood.
Even better; "Twice wi' bits 'n' peas 'n' two teacakes".
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05.01.2011, 16:11
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| | Re: Zweimal Kaffee?
I'm getting worried here. I'm basically 100% Brit. But been abroad for a while now. And "einmal" something does not shock me! Reminds me of a student job a long time ago when I'd hear something like "So einmal Pommes Rot, und einmal Pommes Weiss".
(So 1x chips with ketchup, and 1x chips with mayonnaise).
BTW, thanks, I've noted that it's more "Eimol" than "Einmal" here
Last edited by c123; 05.01.2011 at 18:11.
Reason: Spelling
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05.01.2011, 16:40
| | Re: Zweimal Kaffee? | Quote: | |  | | | I've also heard "Einmal Kaffee" (well not actually Kaffee, and it will have been "Eimol", but the principle is the same).
P.S. English is even more confusing.
I can walk into my local chippy and say "Twice please" and be understood.
Even better; "Twice wi' bits 'n' peas 'n' two teacakes". | | | | | Strange, I have an 'O' level in English but I can't understand you.
A friend of mine is from Manchester and teaches English to German adults in Munich. He went to Newcastle UK, and asked people "Where is the castle please?" no success. So he went into the library and asked there. Again he was met with blank faces (Remember he teaches English to foreigners) "You know, Newcastle - Castle ---?" Then they understood "Oh yer wantt the kessel, it' oup t'a hill!" He came out a different man, unable to make himself understood 246 kilometers from his birth place!
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05.01.2011, 19:20
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| | Re: Zweimal Kaffee?
It makes me laughing each time I get corrected by swiss people while trying to ask multiple things of something. Simply, it's a swiss way to express the simple concept of asking for multiple stuffs...they might also correct you if you try to ask them the "normal" way... you say zwei Fahrkarten bitte nach Hellstadt? and they reply with "zweimal"? first times I was replying back with zwei ... finally understood their way- | 
05.01.2011, 19:27
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| | Re: Zweimal Kaffee? | Quote: | |  | | | I ran into a Swiss guy in the US last year, who was trying to order "twice coffee" at a Peet's. I was so excited to be able to to translate for the barista  | | | | | Ahaahh that's too funny! ahahah luckily he didn't want to order n (>2) coffes! - | 
05.01.2011, 19:29
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| | Re: Zweimal Kaffee? | Quote: | |  | | | When the waitress says zweimal?
You should answer, "Nein nur zwei Kaffee bitte, nicht vier" | | | | | Well, I did it time ago! bit of culture misunderstanding - | 
05.01.2011, 19:31
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| | Re: Zweimal Kaffee?
Call me strange, but isn't it logical??
Zweimal Kaffee??
Where's the problem??
And why are we discussing this in a thread......???
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05.01.2011, 19:32
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| | Re: Zweimal Kaffee? | Quote: | |  | | | It makes me laughing each time I get corrected by swiss people while trying to ask multiple things of something. Simply, it's a swiss way to express the simple concept of asking for multiple stuffs...they might also correct you if you try to ask them the "normal" way... you say zwei Fahrkarten bitte nach Hellstadt? and they reply with "zweimal"? first times I was replying back with zwei ... finally understood their way- | | | | | I understand it simply as clarification (ok, sometimes correction)... better to ask again than trying to serve three coffees in the end. Zwei and drei does sound a bit similar and can be confused if you have other background noise. If in doubt, adopt military speak and order "zwo kafi" | 
05.01.2011, 19:32
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| | Re: Zweimal Kaffee?
Our just-turned 3 year old counts, but anything more than one, is 'two'...for a little while I thought it was because he has confused the concept of 'too' and 'two'....now I am starting to think it's the swiss influence.
How many fingers ?
Let's count them,,, one...two...three...four...five.
How many ? Two!
Edited to add: he also has the most fantastic pronunciation of 'Acht a Tus' - instead of "Octopus"
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05.01.2011, 19:38
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| | Re: Zweimal Kaffee? | Quote: | |  | | | I've also heard "Einmal Kaffee" (well not actually Kaffee, and it will have been "Eimol", but the principle is the same).
P.S. English is even more confusing.
I can walk into my local chippy and say "Twice please" and be understood.
Even better; "Twice wi' bits 'n' peas 'n' two teacakes". | | | | | Yeah - fish n chips twice, please.
Straightforward enough, innit?!! |
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