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) handgun

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

2. (humorous, rare) footballer (soccer player)
   • 2019, Kicker, Hoffenheim und die sorglosen Ballermänner

     Hoffenheim und die sorglosen Ballermänner.

Etymology 2

The beach at Palma where the term originated

Corrupted from Balneario No. 6 (from Spanish balneario (“spa”)), 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.

Noun

Ballermann m (genitive Ballermanns or Ballermannes, no plural)

1. (colloquial) the beach restaurant Beach Club Six (formerly Balneario No. 6) in Palma.
   • mallorca-majorca.de, Ballermann 6 an der Playa de Palma auf Mallorca

     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.
   • 2019, RP Online, Kampf gegen Saufgelage - Alkoholverbot auf „Schinkenstraße“ beschlossen

     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
   • 2013, BILD, Willkommen in „Vulgarien“, dem Balkan-Ballermann

     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.
   • 2002, NTV, Ballermann ohne Ballermänner

     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

• “Ballermann” in Duden online