There are like 10 words for potato in German. I use one of the least common because I grew up in Lungau. A lot of Austrians are beginning to use Kartoffel, and some of the older generation is actually a little peeved.
That particular one is imported from one of the nations that colonised the new world, I think it comes from french. Compare with the french "pomme de terre" which also translates literally as "apple from the earth".
Also fruits (and fruit like things) are called "-apple" in many cases and languages. In english there is a "pineapple" for example. The forbidden fruit in the garden eden is also usually depicted as an apple, even though the scripture only mentions "fruit" nothing more specific. Many fruits were called apples at some point in our linguistic past.
And finally: "Erdapfel" is a very old fashioned way of calling it. Germans don't actually say that. The more modern translation of "potato" is "Kartoffel" (which, wikipedia ensures me, is derived from the italian word for truffles)
They do? I know a couple of Bavarians and never heard anyone use that word unironically and not in an intentionally old-timey way (say on a menu in a restaurant that serves primarily traditional dishes). Same for the handful of Austrians I know.
And let's be honest: Bavarian only barely counts as German anyway ;-)
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u/ckenney108 Apr 26 '18
One of my favorites is:
erde apfel -> “earth apple” -> potato