I'm taking the liberty of reproducing the following lesson in Bona Fide German Words here, just because the lesson is too funny not to! (HT: Marginal Revolution.)
The words you see below are genuine words. True, they are not words you would find in every-day German, but they are lexically and syntactically legitimate. Theoretically, there is no limit to the compounding of nouns in German. There is a practical limit though -- you run out of breath and you lose sight of the beginning before you reach the end.1) Donaydampfshiffahrtsgesellschafts- kapitaenskajuetenschluesseloch
[The keyhole of the door of the cabin of the captain of a steamship company operating on the Danube]
2) Gesundheitswiederherstellungszusammen- mischungsverhaeltniskundiger
[One who knows the mixture ratio of a concoction that is sure torestore health]
3) Ueberseedeutschlehrerinternetmailing- listenfragenstellundantwortkundigen
[People well versed in asking questions and supplying answers on the Internet Mailing List of German teachers abroad]
But that's not all the fun! The author goes on to create some more:
There follows a small collection of pseudo-compound nouns together with their English equivalents, which illustrate the process of compounding as it occurs naturally in the German language.
German Lesson #7
Dog: Barkenpantensniffer Dog Catcher: Barkenpantensniffersnatcher Dog Catcher's Truck: Barkenpantensniffersnatcherwagen Garage for Truck: Barkenpantensniffensnatcherwagenhaus Truck Repairman: Barkenpantensniffensnatcherwagen- mechanikerwerker Mechanic's Union: Barkenpantensniffensnatcherwagen- mechanikerwerkerfeatherbedden- gefixengruppe Doctor: Chestergethumpenpulsentooker Nurse: Chestergethumpenpulsentookerhelper Hypodermic Needle: Chestergethumpenpulsentooker- helperhurtensticker Backside: Chestergethumpenpulsentooker- helperhurtenstickerstabbenplatz Piano: Plinkenplankenplunkenbox Pianist: Plinkenplankenplunkenboxgepounder Piano Stool: Plinkenplankenplunkenboxgepounder- spinnenseat Piano Recital: Plinkenplankenplunkenboxgepounder- offengeshowenspelle Fathers at the Recital: Plinkenplankenplunkenboxgepounder- offengeshowenspellensnoozengruppe Mothers at the Recital: Plinkenplankenplunkenboxgepounder- offengeshowenspellensnoozen- gruppenuppenwakers Automobile: Honkenbrakenscreecher Gasoline: Honkenbrakenscreecherzoomerjuicen Driver: Honkenbrakenscreecherguidenschtunker Auto Mechanic: Honkenbrakenscreecherknockengepinger- sputtergefixer Repair Bill: Bankenrollergebustenuptottenliste
No wonder the Germans are such a fun-loving people!