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  3. Cooking / Culinary

Pfiff Bier

English translation: Pfiff (tiny glass of beer)

19:56 Jan 13, 2009
German to English translations [PRO]
Cooking / Culinary
German term or phrase: Pfiff Bier
Ein Gutschein kann gegen mehrere Sachen eingelöst werden, z.B. für einen Pfiff Bier. Auf der Rückseite des Gutscheins steht in diesem Fall:
1 Pfiff Bier
Gewinn kann nicht in bar abgelöst werden

Info: 1 Pfiff Bier war früher 1/8 ltr. Bier, heutzutage wird meistens ein 0,2 ltr. Glas serviert.

Gibt's da eine entsprechende engl. Maßeinheit? Denn "ridiculously small glass of beer" möcht ich nun doch nicht schreiben.
silvia glatzhofer
Local time: 15:01
English translation:Pfiff (tiny glass of beer)
Explanation:
Ich würde die typische Bezeichnung da nicht ganz wegfallen lassen, denn vermutlich wird der Gutschein ja auch in Wien oder so eingelöst :))

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Note added at 12 mins (2009-01-13 20:08:35 GMT)
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The traditional drink here is a tiny beer called a pfiff.
http://www.ricksteves.com/tvr/viennarse409_scr.htm

Pfiff
a traditional unit of liquid volume for beer in Austria. A Pfiff (the German word means "whistle") is a small quantity of beer. Traditionally it was equal to 1/2 Seidel, which would be about 177 milliliters (5.99 U.S. fluid ounces), but in current use it is generally 200 milliliters (6.76 U.S. fluid ounces), which is 2/3 of the metric Seidel in Austria.
http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/dictP.html
Selected response from:

Andrea Winzer
United States
Local time: 09:01
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2pony of beer
Lonnie Legg
3 +1Pfiff (tiny glass of beer)
Andrea Winzer
40.2 l beer
Ellen Kraus
3 +1sample serving (200mL)
Ken McKerrow
3 +1a sip of beer
Stephen Sadie
3small beer
Aziz Hashmi
3(approx.) quarter-pint (shot) of beer / gill of beer / 5 fluid ounces
Cilian O'Tuama
Summary of reference entries provided
Pfiff Bier
Ellen Kraus

Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
small beer


Explanation:
A half pint would be served in UK but is actually a bit more than 0.2 litres. It's a bit more than a 'sip'!


    Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrian_food
Aziz Hashmi
Germany
Local time: 15:01
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Claire Cox: Yes, near enough to half a pint (in the UK) or a small (glass of) beer would do fine
5 mins
disagree  mary austria: Ein Pfiff ist kleiner als ein "kleines Bier".
20 mins
  -> Indeed, but a 'kleines Bier' is generally 0.3l. A 'small beer' is not so specific.
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9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Pfiff (tiny glass of beer)


Explanation:
Ich würde die typische Bezeichnung da nicht ganz wegfallen lassen, denn vermutlich wird der Gutschein ja auch in Wien oder so eingelöst :))

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 mins (2009-01-13 20:08:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The traditional drink here is a tiny beer called a pfiff.
http://www.ricksteves.com/tvr/viennarse409_scr.htm

Pfiff
a traditional unit of liquid volume for beer in Austria. A Pfiff (the German word means "whistle") is a small quantity of beer. Traditionally it was equal to 1/2 Seidel, which would be about 177 milliliters (5.99 U.S. fluid ounces), but in current use it is generally 200 milliliters (6.76 U.S. fluid ounces), which is 2/3 of the metric Seidel in Austria.
http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/dictP.html

Andrea Winzer
United States
Local time: 09:01
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 20

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Ken McKerrow: that's true - I guess I would change mine to a "Pfiff (200mL)"; I don't think it's that 'tiny', it's almost a US cup! (250mL)
2 mins
  -> Ja, maybe just "Pfiff (200 ml)"
agree  Paul Cohen: I like the word Pfiff. Tourists will get a kick out of it, and they'll be able to recognize one more thing on the menu. I'd keep it and define it. "...or wet your whistle with a 200 ml. glass of beer called a Pfiff (the German word means "whistle")
1 hr
  -> Thank you, Paul :))
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13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
0.2 l beer


Explanation:
in former times it was served in a 1/8 l glass
Pfiff Bier. Ein Pfiff Bier war früher 1/8 ltr. Bier, heutzutage wird meisten ein 0,2 Glas serviert. Artikel Bearbeiten.
www.boeg.at/index.php?page=pfiff-bier - 16k - Im Cache - Ähnliche

Ellen Kraus
Austria
Local time: 15:01
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
pony of beer


Explanation:
As far as I know, it's mostly antiquated, but a nice term.

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Note added at 13 mins (2009-01-13 20:09:40 GMT)
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Lots of quick responses--just say beer and look who all comes running... ;ö)

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Note added at 29 mins (2009-01-13 20:26:06 GMT)
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It isn't clear from the question, but if this is for use in a specific setting where Pfiff is a traditional fixture, then I'd make that:
pony of beer (Pfiff / 200 ml).

Example sentence(s):
  • A pony is a glass of only 140 ml capacity...

    Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pony_glass
Lonnie Legg
Germany
Local time: 15:01
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 22

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Ken McKerrow: I like the term, but it seems to refer to an inaccurate volume in this case (200mL)
3 mins
  -> According to silvia Pfiff was originally 125 ml, so perhaps pony's 140ml (according to Wiki) is close enough...
agree  mary austria: I like it! I don't think anyone would care that a pony is 140 ml. After all, they're getting more!
20 mins
  -> Thanks, mary austria.
neutral  Aziz Hashmi: What if they are driving?
46 mins
  -> Did you mean riding (the pony)? ;o)
agree  Barbara Wiebking: Sounds excellent!
16 hrs
  -> Thanks, kriddl.
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32 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
(approx.) quarter-pint (shot) of beer / gill of beer / 5 fluid ounces


Explanation:
depending on which websites to believe, it can be anything between 0.1 and 0.2 litres

that'd be approx. 1/4 pint (= 0.14 l) = 1 gill = 5 fl. ounces (British English)

any help?





Cilian O'Tuama
Germany
Local time: 15:01
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 52
Notes to answerer
Asker: thanks for throwing in the fluid ounces - that makes it so much easier :-))

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9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
sample serving (200mL)


Explanation:
I would suggest this, since at least at North American beer festivals, people want to know EXACTLY how much beer they're going get for those tickets (which are frequently considered to be overpriced) or 0.2l etc.



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Note added at 35 mins (2009-01-13 20:31:29 GMT)
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Good luck choosing, Silvia! With all this info, I would suggest "Pfiff (0.2l)" if that is indeed the volume being offered. I think Andrea's concern with retaining "Pfiff" is important for figuring out where to get the beer. Since there appears to be no clear English equivalent, I would definitely specify the exact volume, since for some tourists this may be quite important!

Ken McKerrow
Canada
Local time: 09:01
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jutta Wappel: My thought exactly - but you beat me to it :-)
3 mins
  -> thanks, sebbi; you know how it is 8-)
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4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
a sip of beer


Explanation:
to get the ball rolling, using some artistic license

or a gulp of beer

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Note added at 41 mins (2009-01-13 20:38:12 GMT)
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even a swig may work here

Stephen Sadie
Germany
Local time: 15:01
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 35

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ingeborg Gowans (X): :)) kommt darauf an, wie schnell oder langsam man weniger als 1/8 l Bier trinkt, oder??
3 mins
neutral  Aziz Hashmi: rather a large sip! Also, if I was offered a sip of beer, I would imagine sipping from someone else's glass!
5 mins
neutral  Paul Cohen: with Aziz - sip implies a taste of someone else's beer --- same with a swig. Gulp doesn't sound very appealing, either, come to think of it.
1 hr
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Reference comments


10 mins
Reference: Pfiff Bier

Reference information:
Österreichisch-Deutsch : Pfiff-altwiener Achtelmaß einer ...Pfiff altwiener Achtelmaß einer Flüssigkeit, zB Bier : Deutsch- Österreichisches Online ... Für mich ist PFIFF die Maßeinheit für Bier beim Trzesnevsky ! ...
www.ostarrichi.org/wort-7023-at-Pfiff.html - 28k

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Note added at 54 Min. (2009-01-13 20:51:17 GMT)
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Für mich ist PFIFF die Maßeinheit für Bier beim Trzesnevsky ! ...
www.ostarrichi.org/wort-7023-at-Pfiff.html - 28k - Im Cache - Ähnliche Seiten

Ellen Kraus
Austria
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4
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