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President Kennedy's speech concluded with these words:

All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words, 'Ich bin ein Berliner'.

In the context of those words, the correct translation of the words "Ich bin ein Berliner" is "I am a citizen of Berlin". Literally it is, "I am one Berliner."

It is true that the German word "Berliner" a jelly filled pastry. If President Kennedy were giving a speech in New York City and he said, "I am a New Yorker" would New Yorkers confuse JFK the person with the magazine?

It was a mistranslation on the part of Kennedy or his speech writer, and more historically poignant because of the error and the fact that the people of Berlin understood his intent.

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15y ago

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