Gyms, angst, pedantry, and a bit more angst...
I'm one of those people who says the answers out loud when I'm watching a quiz on TV or listening to one on the radio. I try only to do this when I'm alone or with people I know well - it's a slightly annoying habit. But, on occasion, I can't help myself, and I'll do it in public.

I was on the cross-trainer, and just in front of me was a telly that was showing The Weakest Link. The sound was off, but the subtitles were on.

"In language," Anne said, "what 'A' is a German word describing a sense of worry or dread?"

"It's fucking Danish!" I hissed, rather too loudly.

It wasn't just those people within a 5-metre radius who turned to look in my direction. Even the contestants on the TV, I'm sure, glared at me with a look of pity and utter, utter contempt.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Wed 15 Jul 2009, 9:36, 21 replies)

"Aaaarrrggghhhhh!"
I thought it was Cornish, from the Pirate 'Arrrrrrrrrr'
( chart cat has an itch, Wed 15 Jul 2009, 9:47, closed)

Brilliant
It's easily done. I've gotten some odd looks for saying the word "Twat!" too loudly while watching Tony Blair on the news.

*clicks*
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 15 Jul 2009, 9:59, closed)

This ^^
Me too! walking past Dixons, not just in a gym..
(Beer Elf Thought this was like a campfire, anyhow, on, Wed 15 Jul 2009, 10:18, closed)

is it
Angst?
( scoshi pretending to diet since, Wed 15 Jul 2009, 10:30, closed)

and
isnt Angst a German word? i mean, in modern usage, not talking about where it might have come from ... ?
(zenmeban thinks the weather could be better, Wed 15 Jul 2009, 10:33, closed)

Technically speaking you're both right
Angst is a German, Danish, Norwegian and Dutch word for fear or anxiety.

Cheers wikipedia!
( jim_bob can herd cats., Wed 15 Jul 2009, 10:46, closed)

It was introduced into the lexicon...
by 19^th century Danish writer, theologian, and early existentialist philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. The term was then adopted into German by the early phenomenologists - notably Husserl and Jaspers.

I think.

It's Danish in origin, either way.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Wed 15 Jul 2009, 10:50, closed)

the philiosophiocal term
is used differently from the everyday term though, I believe.

You spelled 'phenomenologists' wrong.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 15 Jul 2009, 10:52, closed)

That doesn't alter the fact that it's Danish.
:)

EDIT: ninja'd. And re-ninja'd, because I got it wrong again. Bollocks. You wouldn't know that my PhD was essentially on phenomenology, would you?

EDIT 2: And we both know that I don't have much time for appeals to the everyday use of words...
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Wed 15 Jul 2009, 11:05, closed)

It's Danish and it's also German.

( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 15 Jul 2009, 11:52, closed)

Well, tracing it back, I'd go with Germanic myself.
Damn I've let my linguistic history slide.

/Edit...

Oooooh you're looking at the philosophical side, I'm looking at the linguistic side. And, from the reading of the question it does say language as opposed to philosophy.
( jim_bob can herd cats., Wed 15 Jul 2009, 10:55, closed)

The word is Danish.
It has cognates in German, for sure - but it's a Danish word...
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Wed 15 Jul 2009, 11:04, closed)

And there was me thinking it was English.
Cool, I've been speaking Danish without even knowing.
(Vice Admiral Sir Charles Cockbrush KCB MBE DSO, who is finding it increasingly difficult to log into b3ta.com wants to duck your aunt and kick your puppy, Wed 15 Jul 2009, 11:38, closed)

As a fluent germanist
Angst is definatly a german word for worry or dread, it may also be a danish word, but the question is correct...
(badgerlikespeed, Wed 15 Jul 2009, 11:42, closed)

I agree
The question is correct.

It's also a cracking song by Eisbrecher.
I suggest you all go and listen to it.

Right now.
( scoshi pretending to diet since, Wed 15 Jul 2009, 12:11, closed)

Following some further research:
Angst: Introduced from Danish angst via existentialist Søren Kierkegaard, from Middle High German angest, from Old High German angust. See Proto-Indo-European *angh-. Also related to the German Angst.
(badgerlikespeed, Wed 15 Jul 2009, 11:49, closed)

Well done Wikipedia...

( jim_bob can herd cats., Wed 15 Jul 2009, 12:02, closed)

Actually
wikidictionary ;)
(badgerlikespeed, Wed 15 Jul 2009, 12:04, closed)

Eh?
Danish starts with a D, not an A.
(ScousersPet, Wed 15 Jul 2009, 15:37, closed)

^Ha ha!

(Land of Green Ginger It's dreamy weather, Thu 16 Jul 2009, 8:49, closed)

This

( MatJ LOOK, Thu 16 Jul 2009, 11:38, closed)