[chki]

Interesting. I have heard about this famous speech many times but I have never made the connection to the pastry "Berliner" (or heard anyone mention this association).

Also, as a native German speaker, saying "Ich bin ein Berliner" is not unusual if you are talking about being a citizen of Berlin.

I don't think that was a common association at the time as well. Especially since (pastry) "Berliners" are not called "Berliners" in Berlin but "Pfannkuchen" instead.

[locallost]

It's just an urban legend. Most people don't speak German so you can tell them anything you want :-).

Speaking of which, good thing Kennedy never visited Hamburg.

[mc32]

Well, you're in luck, he did visit Frankfurt.

[dmichulke]

And Wien... (Vienna)

[mc32]

Oh, if he’d only made it to Denmark, it’d be deliciously confusing.

[HPsquared]

I suppose that raises the question, if people from Berlin do indeed call themselves Berliners - do people from Hamburg call themselves Hamburgers? (genuine question)

[Symbiote]

Yes.

Compare "Danish" as an American term for a Viennese pastry, "he's Danish" doesn't sound odd.

We don't generally abbreviate foods named after places, but:

"Cheddar is 200 miles from both Sandwich and Stilton."

These are all places in England.

[tasuki]

I don't see why not. Hamburger means "of Hamburg". If you're thinking about the food item, it isn't a funny coincidence or anything, its name is derived from Hamburg.

I'm not German nor a linguist, YMMV.

[triceratops]

Yes. Hence also the names Frankfurter and Wiener (Wien is Vienna, in German).

[weard_beard]

Or Frankfurt!

[verst]

Berliner and Pfannkuchen are very different pastries (at least in the Northwest of Germany). Pfannkuchen literally implies it is made in a pan, whereas a Berliner is typically deep fried. It often has a fruit jelly filling, but you will also find those without a filling.

I agree that no native speaker would think of the pastry when hearing "Ich bin ein Berliner." Just like I wouldn't think of a sausage if someone were to say "Ich bin ein Frankfurter."