Ballermann

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbalɐman/

• Audio:

  (file)

Etymology 1

From colloquial ballern (“to bang, to shoot”) and Mann (“man”).

Noun

Ballermann m (strong, genitive Ballermannes or Ballermanns, plural Ballermänner)

1. (colloquial) handgun

   Synonyms: (informal) Knarre, (informal) Wumme, (formal) Handfeuerwaffe

   • 1988 February 5, Dr. Hirsch (FDP), “Erste Beratung des von der Bundesregierung eingebrachten Entwurfs eines Dritten Gesetzes zur Änderung des Waffengesetzes”, in parliamentary debates (Deutscher Bundestag)‎^[1], page 4122, column A:

     Es gibt die Waffensammler, die Angst um ihre Museumsexemplare haben, wenn sie der Beschußpflicht unterworfen werden. Es gibt die Ganoven, die sich einen „Ballermann“ möglichst unproblematisch beschaffen wollen.

     There are arms collectors who fear for their museal pieces if they are required to prove their usability. There are gangsters who want to get their hands on a „piece“ with as few problems as possible.

2. (humorous, rare) footballer (soccer player)
   • 2019 February 16, “Hoffenheim und die sorglosen Ballermänner”, in Kicker‎^[2]:

     Hoffenheim und die sorglosen Ballermänner [title]

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Declension

Declension of Ballermann [masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Ballermann	die	Ballermänner
genitive	eines	des	Ballermannes, Ballermanns	der	Ballermänner
dative	einem	dem	Ballermann, Ballermanne1	den	Ballermännern
accusative	einen	den	Ballermann	die	Ballermänner

¹Now rare, see notes.

Etymology 2

The beach at Palma where the term originated

Corrupted from Balneario Nº 6 (from Spanish balneario (“beach section”)), a beach restaurant in Palma, stereotypically frequented by German tourists. Influenced by etymology 1 (esp. as ballern can also mean “to booze”) and possibly also by Balearen, the (German) name of the island group as a whole. Popularised by the 1997 comedy film Ballermann 6.

Proper noun

Ballermann m (proper noun, strong, genitive Ballermannes or Ballermanns)

1. (colloquial, originally) the beach restaurant Beach Club Six (formerly Balneario Nº 6) in Palma
   • 1998, “Kalt wie Eis”, in Dendemann (lyrics), Sport, performed by Eins Zwo:

     Ihr habt für so'n kleinen Kerl allerhand Text / Aber wo soll das laufen, im Ballermann 6?

     For a little guy like you, you've got a lot of text [to rap] / But where's that gonna play, at Ballermann 6?

2. (colloquial) the resorts El Arenal and Playa de Palma, often associated with unrestrained German party tourism
   • 2019 February 28, “Kampf gegen Saufgelage - Alkoholverbot auf „Schinkenstraße“ beschlossen”, in RP Online‎^[3]:

     Seit Jahren kämpft Mallorca gegen den Massentourismus und die Saufgelage auf den Straßen, vor allem am Ballermann und der berühmten „Schinkenstraße“.

     Mallorca has been fighting for years against mass tourism and binge parties in the streets, especially at the „Ballermann“ and in the famous „Schinkenstraße“ [lit. Ham Street, a row of well-frequented tourist bars].

Declension

Declension of Ballermann [sg-only, masculine, strong]

	singular
	indef.	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Ballermann
genitive	eines	des	Ballermannes, Ballermanns
dative	einem	dem	Ballermann, Ballermanne1
accusative	einen	den	Ballermann

¹Now rare, see notes.

Noun

Ballermann m (strong, genitive Ballermannes or Ballermanns, plural Ballermänner)

1. (colloquial, by extension) any beach resort characterised by unrestrained party tourism
   • 2013 July 23, “Willkommen in „Vulgarien“, dem Balkan-Ballermann”, in BILD‎^[4]:

     Sollten die Partytage auf Malle wirklich gezählt sein, kann der Balkan-Ballermann definitiv zu unserem neuen Lieblingsziel werden.

     If the party days at „Malle“ [i.e. Mallorca] should indeed be numbered, the „Balkans Ballermann“ could really become our new favourite destination.

2. (colloquial, often derogatory, rare) an (unrefined) German party tourist
   • 2002 May 26, “Ballermann ohne Ballermänner”, in NTV‎^[5]:

     Ballermann ohne Ballermänner [title]

     Ballermann without the Ballermen.

Usage notes

• Usually takes the local preposition an, i.e. am Ballermann for the location, an den Ballermann for motion towards it.
• The term has been trademarked in Germany in 1994. Protection extends until at least 2027.

Declension

Declension of Ballermann [masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Ballermann	die	Ballermänner
genitive	eines	des	Ballermannes, Ballermanns	der	Ballermänner
dative	einem	dem	Ballermann, Ballermanne1	den	Ballermännern
accusative	einen	den	Ballermann	die	Ballermänner

¹Now rare, see notes.

Further reading

• “Ballermann” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “Ballermann (Schusswaffe)” in Duden online
• “Ballermann (Urlaubsgebiet)” in Duden online