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Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

A Way with Words, a radio show and podcast about language and linguistics.

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German to English?
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1
2015/06/10 - 7:23pm
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I have no idea how the word is correctly spelled.  The pronunciation is oo-nah-bul, with the emphasis on "oo".  A friend who is a German teacher isn't familiar with the term.  My grandmother was born in southeastern Kansas in the late 1880s.  Any ideas out there?

deaconB
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2
2015/06/10 - 11:54pm
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It could be a poor pronunciation of "unable".

The german word  " untauglich" means (among other things) unmannerly and incapable.

Guest
3
2015/06/11 - 9:03am
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It is an archaic German word meaning awkward or unwieldy.  If you Google "oonable  awkward" there are a few sites that mention it.

Guest
4
2015/06/11 - 7:19pm
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Thanks to you both!

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