German word of the day: Erbsenzahler
Briefly

The German term 'Erbsenzähler', meaning 'pea counter', characterizes individuals who display obsessive attention to detail and pedantry, often deemed nitpickers. This personality type can be seen in various contexts, like a colleague overly concerned with presentation formatting or a railway worker strictly enforcing reserved seating. Originally, the term implied traits of stinginess, reflecting a broader definition linked to financial management, reminiscent of the English phrase 'bean counter'. This linguistic aspect highlights the historical usage of 'Erbsenzähler' since the 1600s, demonstrating a longstanding societal recognition of such meticulous personality types.
Der Erbsenzähler, a German term meaning 'pea counter', symbolises a personality type fixated on precision and detail, often seen as pedantic or nitpicking.
Historically, the term Erbsenzähler also referred to someone who was stingy, evolving from a financial context similar to the English 'bean counter'.
Read at The Local Germany
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