U-boat

[irmamar]

I'm studying the WWII. They talk about U-boats. I understand that they are the German submarines, but I'd like to know why these submarines were called so.

Thanks.

[pjt33]

De Wikipedia: "U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot [ˈuːboːt], itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot (undersea boat)".

[Sancho Panther]

I do not presume to criticize, only try to offer help - the WWII i.e. no definite article required. Also so-called is far better. Please don't be offended.

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by Sancho Panther

I do not presume to criticize, only try to offer help - the WWII i.e. no definite article required. Also so-called is far better. Please don't be offended.

Bueno, también mejor quitar el artículo antes de "German submarines". Pero debe ser "so called" así - "so-called" siempre modifica algo (un sustantivo o un adjetivo).

[Rusty]

You can also say, "... to know why these submarines were called that." At least, this is a possible AmE phrase. We use 'so-called' to modify a noun or an adjective, as pjt33 pointed out. Hearing a phrase ending in 'called so' would be a very rare occurrence in AmE.

[conejodescarado]

Originally Posted by Sancho Panther

I do not presume to criticize, only try to offer help - the WWII i.e. no definite article required. Also so-called is far better. Please don't be offended.

Just to clear up any confusion, if you express it as "the Second World War", then you do need the article, but otherwise yes, WWII is a proper noun, without an article.

You can also say "I don't know why they were named as such".

Ninguno se debe ofender aquí, todos estamos aquí para aprender

[irmamar]

No me ofendo, claro. Aunque veo que lo que he escrito ha dado más jugo que la pregunta en sí.

Thanks.

[CrOtALiTo]

I can't understand.

Are they speaking about boats like a ships parked in the beach?

What is exactly the term of the boat word?

Sincerely yours.

[irmamar]

Son submarinos, Crotalito.