monkey / ape
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monkey / ape
A mammal from the order of primates that is biologically closely related to humans and often lives in trees.
Im Zoo beobachteten die Kinder fasziniert die Affen beim Spielen.
At the zoo, the children watched the monkeys playing with fascination.
fool
Colloquial and derogatory for a person who behaves in a silly, stupid, or ridiculous way.
Hör auf so herumzuspringen, du machst dich ja zum Affen!
Stop jumping around like that, you're making a fool of yourself!
to be drunk
A colloquial idiom meaning to be very drunk or intoxicated.
Er hat auf der Party so viel getrunken, dass er am Ende einen richtigen Affen hatte.
He drank so much at the party that by the end he was really drunk.
backpack
Colloquially, especially in soldiers' jargon, an outdated term for a heavy backpack or knapsack.
Der Rekrut musste seinen schweren Affen den ganzen Weg zum Lager tragen.
The recruit had to carry his heavy backpack all the way to the camp.
The expression 'sich zum Affen machen' means to behave ridiculously or foolishly. The verb is reflexive here: someone 'macht sich zum Affen' (makes a fool of themselves).
Er hat auf der Bühne getanzt und sich total zum Affen gemacht.
He danced on stage and made a complete fool of himself.
The colloquial expression 'einen Affen haben' means to be very drunk. The structure is always 'jemand hat einen Affen' (someone is very drunk).
Nach fünf Bier hatte er einen ordentlichen Affen.
After five beers, he was properly drunk.
You can recognize the meaning of 'Affe' (monkey / ape) from the verb. If you 'see' an Affe, it means the animal. If you 'sich zum Affen macht' (make a fool of yourself), you are behaving foolishly. If you 'einen Affen hat' (are very drunk), you are drunk.
Im Zoo haben wir einen Affen gesehen.
We saw a monkey at the zoo.
The meaning 'Rucksack' (backpack) is outdated and comes from soldiers' jargon. You practically never hear it in everyday language today.
Der Soldat schulterte seinen schweren Affen und marschierte los.
The soldier shouldered his heavy backpack and marched off.
The word 'Affe' (monkey / ape) can be used directly as an insult for a person you consider stupid or silly. However, it is considered a rather harmless or childish insult.
Du Affe, du hast den falschen Knopf gedrückt!
You idiot, you pressed the wrong button!
clown
Both words can describe a person who behaves foolishly or in a way that cannot be taken seriously. „Der Affe“ is usually much more derogatory, while „der Clown“ can also be used jokingly for someone who deliberately makes others laugh. Choose „Affe“ for stronger criticism and „Clown“ for a playful effect.
Benimm dich nicht wie ein Affe und hör auf, die anderen zu stören.
Don't act like a fool and stop bothering the others.
Bei der Feier spielte Tom den Clown, um alle zum Lachen zu bringen.
At the party, Tom played the clown to make everyone laugh.
