Björn Vrooman Nov 9, 2016:

Thusnelda "Thusnelda, war die Gattin des Cheruskerfürsten Arminius. Sie geriet in römische Gefangenschaft, welche sie ungebrochen und heldenmütig ertrug – so beschreibt sie der römische Geschichtschreiber Tacitus. Seit dieser Zeit galt Thusnelda als Sinnbild der guten, edlen, germanischen Frau. Erst im 19. Jahrhundert wurde der Name im Sinne einer ungebildeten nervigen bis liederlichen Frau negativ umgedeutet. Ob dafür Kleists 'Herrmannsschlacht' verantwortlich ist, die von vielen Schülergenerationen unfreiwillig durchgeackert worden ist? Die abgeschnittene blonde Locke Thusneldas mag pubertäre Fantasien beflügelt haben. Ein anderer Grund kann die Mode gewesen sein, Mädchen aus den ärmeren Ständen nach der edlen Thusnelda zu nennen. Diese waren häufig gezwungen ihren Lebensunterhalt als Dienstmädchen zu verdingen, wo sie dann 'Thuschen' gerufen wurden. Daraus entstand später, die heute sehr gebräuchliche abwertende 'Tu__ssi'"
http://www.gutefrage.net/frage/wie-wuerdet-ihr-das-wort-tuss...

See also:
http://sites.arte.tv/karambolage/de/das-portrat-die-tussi-ka...

Björn Vrooman Nov 9, 2016:

PS Although I'd have to add that even in the original sense, "tussig" is typically said about people that are arrogant without anything "to back it up" (thinking of a Beyonce song here, sorry if that's not clear), e.g., one of the "rougher types." Maybe that helps (from an Austrian book):
"Dabei wechselt die Autorin manchmal abrupt zwischen getragenem Pathos und Wiener Jargon, das hochliterarisch anmutende 'wiewohl' steht im Kontrast zu Ausdrücken wie 'die tussige Wienerin' (S. 34) oder 'Angefressenes Schweigen.' (S. 157) Es versinnbildlicht das Missverhältnis zwischen hehrem Kunststreben und groben Lebensverhältnissen."
http://www.dine-petrik.com/rezensionen.html

If that doesn't, I got a nice description of the word's origin here.

Björn Vrooman Nov 9, 2016:

They had a discussion about this in the Youtube comment section:
- Tussig does not mean arrogant in German. It means feminine.
- naja es ist einfach ein arrogantes mädchen (it means that a girl is really arrogant)
- I'd say it's a mix of both.
- It actually means kinda diva-like. If you're in Austria Standard German really seems quite arrogant compared to Austrian accents. And you clearly can tell the difference"

I suppose it depends on what was going through the girl's head when she said it. But that I don't know, of course.

Thomas Pfann Nov 9, 2016:

Ah, I see. But I don't agree - can't see that at all.

Björn Vrooman Nov 9, 2016:

@Thomas tussig = tuntig

Thomas Pfann Nov 9, 2016:

@Björn: What do you mean when you say 'talk like a fairy'?

Björn Vrooman Nov 9, 2016:

@Thomas and Phil I watched the video. While I agree with you regarding the general meaning of "tussig," did you pay close attention to the example the other girl gave beforehand as well as the expression on her face?

I actually think she means "talk like fairy" here - yes, in that offensive way.

Thomas Pfann Nov 9, 2016:

I think it can mean 'arrogant' (and might well mean 'arrogant' in the video). Bit full of themselves, haughty, snobbish, stuck-up, pompous...

This test is about "Wie tussig bist du?" and you can find out "ob du eher unscheinbar bist oder doch eher 'ne Angebertusse!" http://www.testedich.de/quiz21/quiz/1157715517/Wie-tussig-bi...

And these teenagers are discussing what images the name Michelle conjures up. One of the teenagers says it sounds 'tussig' and when asked whether she means that in the sense of 'assig' or in the sense of 'eingebildet' she confirms it sounds 'eingebildet'. http://www.urbia.de/archiv/forum/th-4179030/michelle-schubla...

So I guess it can mean mean different things to different people, but mostly the idea is one of arrogance.

philgoddard Nov 9, 2016:

I've found it used of women, and it appears to mean something like "high maintenance", ie full of themselves, self centred, superficial. Is that the right idea?

philgoddard Nov 9, 2016:

To save you watching the video It's a vox pop in Vienna asking people what they think about Germany, and specifically the way they speak. The person says that it sounds "ein bisschen tussig".