How other languages tackle the hangover
In Britain, before we ever had a hangover, we were crapulous. In the early 20th century the word ‘hangover’ shifted from meaning unfinished business to cover that morning after feeling. It serves its purpose, but lacks the poetry of some overseas phrases
Germany: Katzenjammer
Literally translated as cats wailing, katzenjammer now refers to most things causing an ‘unpleasant reaction’, but especially the morning after.
France: Mal aux cheveux
Translates as ‘hair-ache’. The French tiptoe around the terrible truth and suggest it ‘hurts the hair’, implying they had a little bit too much vin rouge last night.
Mexico: Cruda
A slang term for hangover, cruda literally means raw. Some of us do wake up feeling like a tenderised steak.
Iceland: Timburmaður
Literally translated as carpenter (timberman) but used more commonly to describe the aftermath of a night on the Brennivín in Reykjavík. The word could relate to a feeling of ‘timber-mouth’ resulting from dehydration.
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