Expression for someone with very broad and detailed knowledge

Question

Are there any well-known German expressions for someone who is very board and detailed in knowledge? for example:

He is a human database

score 16 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 27 '11 at 12:01

16

There's

Sie ist ein wandelndes Lexikon.

Sometimes also used in this form

Sie ist ein lebendes Lexikon.

answered Aug 27 '11 at 12:01

splattne

2

+1 for wandelndes Lexikon (I've never lived in a region where the other version is used). – Hendrik Vogt Aug 27 '11 at 13:49

score 6 · Answer 2 · edited Aug 27 '11 at 21:24

6

One option would be "der/die Universalgelehrte" from the English word "polymath".

edited Aug 27 '11 at 21:24

answered Aug 27 '11 at 12:42

Hackworth

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 23 '23 at 02:00

3

There is also the exppression "Hansdampf in allen Gassen."

answered Aug 23 '23 at 02:00

From which region is this? As a Rheinisch person I'd have no idea what this meant. – YPOC Aug 23 '23 at 09:15

takrl · Answer 4 · 2012-11-06T08:04:24.587

2

I think both Alleskönner and Tausendsassa could fit as well, if a more colloquial term is needed. Multitalent would be another option.

edited Nov 06 '12 at 08:04

answered Nov 05 '12 at 14:00

takrl

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Aug 29 '11 at 12:50

0

The word I would use is "savant." It was originally French, may have been adopted in German, but I'm not sure.

answered Aug 29 '11 at 12:50

Tom Au

3

It is sometimes used in German, but only for who are "savant" due to Asperger syndrome, as far as I know. – Hendrik Vogt Aug 29 '11 at 17:47
1

I suspect a lot of Germans wouldn't be familiar with that term. I've certainly never heard it used. – Cass Aug 30 '11 at 13:35
1

You can use that (the german word is "Inselbegabter"), but it doesn't describe someone with a broad knowledge. Savants are often mentally retarded, but have one particular skill that is far better than that of normal people. That can be perfectly playing music just after hearing a piece once or reciting a telephone book after reading it once. A savant is also not necessarily an autistic person. – Karsten Hahn Sep 06 '11 at 11:32

5 Answers5