Du hast Köpfchen

Meaning: You're sharp and clever — you use your brain well.

Literally: You have a little head

Origin: German colloquial compliment; the affectionate diminutive makes it warm rather than dry.

More German compliments & insults

Faulpelz A lazybones — someone who lounges around and avoids any effort, as warm and inert as a fu…
Griesgram A perpetual grump who radiates dissatisfaction and sucks the joy out of every room.
Pantoffelheld A man who is only bold and brave at home — a henpecked pushover who bluster turns into a…
Schlauberger A know-it-all smartass who never misses a chance to show off their cleverness.
Dickkopf A pig-headed, unyielding person — their skull is so thick no new idea can penetrate it.
Du bist nicht die hellste Kerze auf der Torte You're a little dim — not the smartest in the room.

Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.

Fremdschämen The vicarious embarrassment you feel for someone who is doing something cringeworthy — ev…
Drachenfutter A peace-offering gift brought home to a partner after staying out too late or doing somet…
Verschlimmbessern To make something worse in a well-intentioned attempt to improve it.

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