It’s become kind of a cliché to say “Oh, the Germans probably have a word for it.” But as Ian Crouch (reviewing Ben Schott’s new book, Schottenfreude: German Words for the Human Condition, among others) points out, more often than not, they do:

Leertretung
Stepping down heavily on a stair that isn’t there.
Void-Stepping

Tageslichtspielschock
Being startled when exiting a movie theater into broad daylight.
Day-Light-Show-Shock

Rollsschleppe
The exhausting trudge up a stationary escalator.
Escalator-Schlep

Gaststättenneueröffnungsuntergangsgewissheit
Total confidence that a newly opened restaurant is doomed to fail.
Inn-New-Opening-Downfall-Certitude

Crouch has plenty of other examples of the non-German sort as well, along with some commentary on what it all means.

Me? I’m a fan of all neologisms unless they’re trying too hard to be specique.

Photo Credit: DL Byron, texturadesign.com