An Exogesis of 'Schnookie', and Other German wird's of endearment
Though somewhat embarrassed, I feel compelled to note that 'Snookie' is probably the most popular term if affection in Germany. The origin of the word, from my cultural understanding, is that Schnookie is Heidi's favorite baby goat, which every child and parent here knows by heart, down to yodeling intro-music. So I've been calling my kids this for years, and yes, sound very much like a German Guido when I shorten this to 'Snook.' Naturally when I started watching Jersey Shore I realized this had to stop, so I started thinking about alternatives. It turns out I had about three choices - most familiar to American readers being 'Schatz' or 'Schatzie'. (literally, Treasure). The problem with this is that it is pretty exclusively a BF/GF term. I would need to be a middle-aged man in a white suit, fake tan and a gold chain saying this to my much younger GF to feel comfortable calling anyone 'mein Schatzilein'. (hmm, it occurs that too many of these apply to me - perhaps I should get a gold chain and just own it). I guess the language itself just isn't affectionate, since the only other term that comes to mind is 'Liebling' or 'Liebchen' (literally, Favorite). But to the German ear this sounds like a housewife serving her husband martinis.
For now I still haven't settled in a proper replacement, what do you think is good?
For now I still haven't settled in a proper replacement, what do you think is good?