[An article about Cho] started out, 'Funny, sexy, zaftig Margaret Cho...' What is 'zaftig?' Isn't that German for 'big fat pig?' I guess I was lucky; 'zaftig' is kind of a nice word. It could have been, 'Funny, sexy, OBESE Margaret Cho.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker questions the etymology of a word used to describe her body type and compares it to worse insults.
- In plain terms
- She doubts a German word for plus-size actually means big fat pig.
- What can you take from it?
- Language choices in media can feel like insults disguised as praise.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you feel about words used to describe your body?
- Who decides what is a nice compliment?
Another view
The word zaftig is actually Yiddish, not German.
More from Margaret Cho
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Permalink to quote #18 And I got so drunk, I got so drunk that I actually woke up thinking, 'Should I get up and pee, or just pee in the bed?' Actually weighing the pros and the cons…
Permalink to quote #15
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