Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei

◆proverb

nothing lasts forever

Ich weiß, dass alles ein Ende hat, nur die Wurst hat zwei – irgendwann ist auch das vorbei.

I know nothing lasts forever, not even this – eventually it’ll be over too.

◆ What It Really Means

Nothing lasts forever; even the most persistent or difficult situations will eventually end.

¶ Literal Meaning

Everything has one end, except the sausage, which has two.

Literal Breakdown

Alleseverything+hat ein Endehas one end+nur die Wurst hat zweionly the sausage has two

◇ Mental Image

A sausage with two ends, symbolizing something that seems endless but is actually finite.

◈ When to Use

A friend is complaining about a never-ending work project. You say, 'Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei – it’ll be over soon!'

◉ Cultural Note

This proverb is a classic example of German humor, using a playful twist on the literal meaning of 'Wurst' to make a serious point about impermanence. It reflects the German love for wordplay and irony in everyday language.

informal

Nothing lasts forever; everything has an end.

Ich habe mich von ihr getrennt, aber alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei – irgendwann wird auch das überstanden sein.

I broke up with her, but nothing lasts forever; eventually this will be over too.

Often used humorously or ironically to acknowledge that even difficult or seemingly endless situations will eventually come to an end.

Related Phrases

Aller guten Dinge sind dreiproverb

All good things come in threes

Das Licht am Ende des Tunnelsmetaphor

The light at the end of the tunnel

Pro Tip

When to use this proverb

Use this proverb when you want to humorously or ironically remind someone (or yourself) that even the most difficult or long-lasting situations will eventually end. It’s especially common in casual conversations about stress, conflicts, or tedious tasks.

Usage Notes

This proverb plays on the literal meaning of 'Wurst' (sausage) having two ends (slices), contrasting with the figurative meaning of 'Ende' (end) as a single point. It is used to lighten the mood when discussing difficult or prolonged situations.

Deutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch