Me: How do you say “Christmas tree” in German?
Them: we say Weihnachtsbaum
Me: Then what does “tannenbaum” mean?
Them: That’s the actual name of the tree itself. “Weihnacht” just means Christmas
Me: So, the song “Oh Tannebaum” isn’t saying “Oh Chrismas Tree”?
Them: Oh Tannenbaum is a Christmas song but Tannenbaum is the translation to fir tree I guess
Me: So it’s saying, “Oh fir tree, oh fir tree”?
Them: Yes exactly. German language is weird haha
Me: “Baum” is tree?
Them: yes. have you heard that song in the US?
Me: Yes. Sometimes it’s “Oh Tannebaum” and sometimes it’s “Oh Christmas Tree.” Like, in the first case, they translate everything into English except “Tannenbaum.” And when they do translate that, they translate it wrong, I guess. So the syllable count matches? And it makes sense. Because who sings a song about fir trees?
Them: ahh I see. yeah Christmas tree makes more sense in English as it’s a Christmas song