Ballermann

German

Pronunciation

IPA(key): /ˈbalɐman/

Etymology 1

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

Noun

Ballermann m (genitive Ballermanns or Ballermannes, plural Ballermänner)

  1. (slang) a handgun.
  2. (humorous, rare) a footballer, a soccer player.
    1. Hoffenheim und die sorglosen Ballermänner.

Synonyms

Etymology 2
The beach at Palma where the term originated

Corrupted from Balneario No. 6 (from Spanish balneario (“spa”)), a beach restaurant in Palma de Majorca, 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".

Noun

Ballermann m (genitive Ballermanns or Ballermannes, no plural)

  1. (colloquial) the beach restaurant Beach Club Six (formerly Balneario No. 6) in Palma de Majorca.
    1. Wer aber Mallorca nur auf den Ballermann 6 reduziert[,] tut der Insel unrecht.
  2. (colloquial) that part of Palma de Majorca characterised by party tourism, typically frequented by German tourists, stereotypically associated with unrefined behaviour and liberal consumption of alcohol.
    1. Seit Jahren kämpft Mallorca gegen den Massentourismus und die Saufgelage auf den Straßen, vor allem am Ballermann und der berühmten „Schinkenstraße“.
  3. (colloquial) by extension, any beach vacation area that can be characterised in the above way.
    1. Sollten die Partytage auf Malle wirklich gezählt sein, kann der Balkan-Ballermann definitiv zu unserem neuen Lieblingsziel werden.
  4. (colloquial, humorous, rare) an (unrefined) German tourist.
    1. Ballermann ohne Ballermänner.

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.

Further reading
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