One of the physical characteristics I have noticed about German people is that they are blonde-haired, but there are other traits defining their character as a people.
A common physical feature about German people most of us will agree with is being taller than the average Central European. Their facial features are also unique among other populations in Western Europe.
Besides having blonde hair or being taller than the average height of other Europeans, German people value their culture and love every moment of celebrating it.
However, there have been some misconceptions and stereotypes tied to the Germans, which we will be discussing in this article.
German Characteristics
Whenever you come across a German person, there will some kind of physical features which tends to reveal their nationality, without speaking their language or speaking with a German accent.
A common way most of us identify German people is by their accents. Even with their accent, it could be difficult for most people to identify Germans.
Just as there are more red-haired people in Ireland, the Germans are known for their distinctive height and facial features.
So, what are the common German people’s physical characteristics?
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German People Physical Characteristics and Character Traits
Complexion, height, and unique facial features are some of the physical characteristics of German people.
#1. Light Complexion
When you visit Germany for the first time, you will see more people with blue eyes, blond hair, and light complexion.
According to Helpfulprofessor.com, almost half of the population in Germany have blue eyes and more are blond-haired.
I have watched the German National Team at different football tournaments and the majority of the players on the field were blonde. The women’s national football team also have more blonde-haired players.
The Germans are also known for having a lighter complexion compared to other nationalities in Central Europe. Their lighter complexion is pinked-toned rather than olive-toned.
A physical feature that makes the Germans more prone to suffer sunburns during the hottest summers. Germans are usually stereotyped for this as they are often seen wearing sunglasses for protection.
#2. Teutonic Profile
For centuries, historians talked about the facial profile that has been associated with German people.
Some of these facial features include a pointed chin and a large but pointed nose.
In general, German people have a variety of facial profiles. This is common for a country with a large population.
German facial profile is more prominent among people from Germany than other populations within Europe or the rest of the world.
#3. Higher Cheekbones
German people tend to have higher cheekbones than other Europeans. This is one of the distinctive physical characteristics of German people.
Their cheekbones look better from the front, especially when viewed from a 45-degree angle.
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#4. Tallness
Germans are taller than the average Central European man or woman. The country is where you will find some of the tallest people, not just in Europe but the entire world.
They stand taller than the average person from other countries in Central Europe. The average German man according to reports stands at five feet five inches, while the average German woman is five feet five inches.
Going by European standards, this makes the average German person taller than the average height on a global scale.
#5. Square Jaw
Another physical characteristic of the Germans is having a squared jaw. A common physical characteristic to complement their blue eyes and blonde hair.
This facial feature is unique to the Germans. Having a square jaw is just as wide as the entire skull. This can be seen from the front of the face, as it appears to be fully fleshed out as a result of being as wide as the skull.
Stereotypical Character Traits of Germans
Besides possessing unique physical characteristics, German people also have certain stereotypical character traits tied to them.
#6. Oktoberfest Is the Epitome of German Culture
There have been some misconceptions about Oktoberfest, the iconic annual German celebration. For over a century, Oktoberfest has become the most recognizes celebration in the German culture based on the perspective of others.
Oktoberfest is an annual celebration in Germany where common things you will see are old-fashioned lederhosen and dirndl, beer tents, and men and women dressed in costume with a glass beer mug in hand.
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The celebration is bigger in German cities like Berlin and Hamburg. Oktoberfest is also celebrated in cities outside Europe. One of the biggest Oktoberfest celebrations take place in Canada, Ohio, and Brazil.
#7. Germans are Orderly
Several European countries are ranked among the best safest nations in the world.
Although Iceland remains the safest country in the world with a Global Peace Index of 1.107, Germany is the 16th safest nation on Earth with a Global Peace Index of 1.440.
The Germans are arguably one of the most orderly-behaved people in the world. A character that German people are sometimes stereotyped for.
#8. German People Prioritize Efficiency
If you used any German product, whether heavy machinery or handy tool, they tend to last for ages because of their quality.
People consider the quality of German products to be the reflection of prioritizing efficiency. The Germans are known for poetizing efficiency above all.
However, this has been one of the stereotypes tied to the German people.
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#9. Germans Have No Sense of Humour
There is a generalized idea that German people are stiff and humourless.
One would say that former German Prime Minister Angela Merkel is a bit stiff and formal compared to former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Not having a sense of humour is a common stereotype tied to German people. It’s unknown how his stereotype started in the first place, but it’s more common and heard of in the 21st century.
#10. German People Love Cars
Perhaps it’s because they own some of the best and most reliable car manufacturing companies in the world. Some of the biggest car brands from Germany include automobile giants, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, and Volkswagen.
You can’t blame the Germans for loving cars so much since they manufacture some of the best luxury cars in the world.
However, Germans loving cars is just another stereotype as they are more people in countries like Italy and Poland who owns more cars.
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#11. German People are Unfriendly
Here is yet another stereotype tied to German people. We have discussed German people physical characteristics and character traits.
It’s another misconception that German people are unfriendly. We have talked about Germans not having a sense of humour, another stereotypical character trait is being antisocial.
Well, Germans are not known for engaging in small talk or casual chit-chat. If you find yourself in the country, don’t expect the people to engage you in small talk.
Perhaps the Germans prefer keeping to themselves which doesn’t mean they are all stiff and unfriendly.
German as a Language is Ugly: Some language sound strange and funny to others who do not understand.
The German language for example is considered “Ugly” by some people. This is something I would disagree with as someone who learned basic German in college.
In my opinion, the German language is a language that carries a historical value and identity of the people.
Conclusion
A common misconception is that all Germans are stiff and unfriendly.
However, they have distinctive physical characteristics from other populations in Central Europe. They are taller than the average European and almost half of the population have blue eyes with lighter complexion and blonde hair.
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References
- HelpfulProfessors: 10 German People Physical Characteristics & Character Traits
- Babbel Magazine: 7 German Stereotypes We’re Tired of Hearing
- The Guardian: German stereotypes: Don’t mention the towels
- Genomelinks: Thinking About Taking a German Heritage Test?
- DW: 5 German habits that are hard to understand
- JSTOR: Personality Traits and Foreign Policy Attitudes in German Public Opinion
- World Population Review: Safest Countries in the World 2023
