The Many Meanings of 'Banana' in German Language

Manfred Papst explores the German word 'Banane' (banana) and its various idiomatic uses beyond the fruit. Derived from a Bantu language via Portuguese in the late 16th century, the word now serves multiple expressions: 'alles Banane' means everything is fine, while 'Das ist mir Banane' indicates indifference. Feeling 'Banane' describes a bad mood. The 1980s German band Zoff had a hit 'Total Banane' about feeling down. The 1923 German song 'Ausgerechnet Bananen' adapted from the Broadway revue 'Make It Snappy' features lyrics by Fritz Löhner-Beda. Papst also uses the banana as a mnemonic to explain the philosophical difference between realists and nominalists: realists say the banana is curved because no one straightened it, nominalists say if it were straight it wouldn't be a banana. The article was published in NZZ am Sonntag.