Linguistic Pilferage

There are a number of German words that have made it into the English language because they are untranslatable, for example, Zeitgeist, Leitmotiv, and Schadenfreude. I have come across a few more that ought to be introduced.

• spießig (adj.) - used to describe anything that demonstrates tastelessness or an exaggerated sense of self-importance. For example, comb-overs, garden gnomes, and manicured lawns. Or, the Austrian Silent Night Society (mission: to be the world's authority on the song Silent Night).
  

• basteln (v.) - To basteln is to create like a kid in the largest sense, to make something impressive with modest inputs. So you can basteln a robot out of toilet paper rolls or you can basteln a dinner from what happens to be left in the refrigerator.

• Ausbildung (n.) is schooling or training in a general sense, could be practical, hands-on or theoretical. The word is useful and egalitarian because it can be applied so universally; whether mechanic or pilot or teacher or nurse -- just about everyone has some form of  Ausbildung.

• Liebeskummer (n.) - If you have a Liebeskummer, or a severe case of the love blues, you have been clinically diagnosed as heartbroken.

• Fingerspitzengefuehl - (n.) Though it literally only means the feeling (-gefuehl) in your fingertips (Fingerspitzen), this word refers to a particular flair, or an uncanny ability for something tricky. Intuition of the fingertips. 

And as a bonus bonus, here are some nifty words to incorporate from other languages.