What is a “smart alec” in German?

Question

I was telling my math class the story about how Gauss added up the numbers from one to a hundred when he was in first grade. I told them that when he put his slate on the teacher's desk face down, the teacher thought he was some kind of smart alec. And then I told my class that the Germans have very picturesque words for a lot of things, and they probably have a nice expression for "smart alec". And now I can't think of one. Can anyone help?

EDIT: As a matter of secondary interest, my Yiddish correspondents have offered me the very colorful "khokhem", lit. "wise man" from the Hebrew khakham. (A Karaite rabbi is a khakham.) A variant is "khokhmah", as for example if a child learns to make a loud slurping noise when drinking with a straw, his mother might say he's got a new "khokhmah". As far as I can see none of the German expressions would have had much currency in spoken Yiddish, although they would of course have all been understood by any Yiddish speaker.

Answer 1

Initially I would think that you could look this up, but there are different connotations depending on how "smart alec(k)" is intended.

In the case of a "know-it-all" or "smartypants" being more about attitude, which best fits in your example, you'd probably use something like Besserwisser, Schlauberger, Schlaumeier, Schlaukopf, Klugscheisser, usw.

In the case of a prankster or joker and performing an act of some kind, you'd probably use something like Spassvogel, Witzbold, Schlingel, Schelm, Till Eulenspiegel (old literary figure), usw.

There are a number of colloquial and regional examples and probably other ones that teens use, but these are well-known for a basic definition.

Answer 2

some translations of "smart alec"

most common:

Klugscheißer (verbatim: smart-shitter)

A person who produces smart things as easily as other people produce shit or crap.

very common:

Besserwisser (verbatim: better-knower)

A person who knows everything better

Schlaumeier (verbatim: smart-manciple)

"Meier" is a very common last name in Germany (like "Smith", "Johnson", "Williams" in USA), but the original meaning of "Meier" is almost forgotten. "Meier" is the name of an extinct profession. A Meier was the caretaker and disposer of a farm or acres. An english manciple is not exactly the same as a german Meier, but it is close to it.

less common:

Schlauberger (verbatim: smart-???)

"Berger" is like "Meier" a common last name in Germany. Some say it comes from "a person who is living on a mountain (mountain = Berg), some others say it comes from another extinct profession, a person who collects scrap.

Neunmalklug (verbatim: nine times smart)
Siebengescheit (verbatim: seven times smart)

A Person who is 7- or 9-times smarter than other people.

Schlaukopf (verbatim: smart-head)

A Person with a smart head.

Naseweis (verbatim: prudent-nose; NOT white-nose!)

Only used for pert children who knows much. Originally a person that has a prudent/sapient good nose.