Photo by Wolfgang Kippes
The caption called this a sperlingskauz, which was translated to "Sparrow Owl."
I'd never heard of a Sparrow Owl, but the EPO has a scientific name that is Latin for "Sparrow Owl" that I will assume is how it got its German name.
That's one of my favourite 'flat jokes' (Flachwitze in German).
What is sitting in the tree and waving (hello/farewell)?
A Huhu
That's not only a play on words. Uhu is the German word for GHO. By adding the H it turns into an interjection and word that's used when people call out in greeting/to get another person's attention. At the same time it's how Germans imitate a GHO's hoot - huhu.
Oh cool! I'll have to keep this one in mind for if I ever get to tell jokes in German lol
I took it to mean you can just hoot at them as a way of saying hello 🤗
That too lol
Ah, I was finally able to figure out the "joke," as I only got the "flat" earlier as I didn't know "huhu." I had just searched for "eulenwitz," and this thing popped up a million times. I knew "uhu" but I was too tired yet to notice the extra H to figure it was a pun. I knew one of you would lead me to the answer though!
For everyone not in on it:
Was sitzt auf einem Baum und winkt? — Ein "Huhu“! What is sitting on a tree and waving? – A “Huhu”!
Explanation: in German, “huhu” is a greeting, while “Uhu” signifies an “owl”
From The ~~Funniest~~ One and Only Multi-Language Jokebook
That's so nice. I'm saving that to read it latter. Thank you for sharing!
Some of those jokes are definitely flat, but it is nice getting insight to so many languages in a fun way.
I was glad to have fun with the German lemmings like I have had fun trying French with you. Everyone is always expected to go to English to talk together, but it doesn't need to be that way every time. It would do many good to have some experience in other languages.
The intern was supposed to order a box of Uhu (brand that's synonymously used for glue).
They're packaging is pretty distinctive as it is, but I'm a little sad they named it after such a cool animal, but then did not seem to have an owl related logo or anything other than the Adventure Glue bottle, which I don't think exists anymore.
It's broken
:( And here I hoped that changing the instance would help
It can also be found here: https://kekememes.de/picture/der-praktikant-sollte-eine-kiste-uhu-bestellen-xva1Xf4f8
You beat me to it! I also added an explanation in a comment. It's quite cute :D
Your explanation has more details, so it's still the better one.
Plus you taught me about flat jokes, so I got to read a few more looking for the owl explanation.