False Cognate Warning

My German Teacher: Kennen Sie das Wort Genie? (Do you know the word Genie?)

Me: Sicher, wie "Ich träume von Genie." (Sure, like "I Dream of Genie.")

Teacher: huh?

Me: Oder ein Genie in einer Flasche. (or a genie in a bottle)

Teacher: looks confused

Me: Christina Aguilera?

Lesson learned: Genie just means genius in German. Germans may not have grown up with the same TV show and would also not likely recognize, "Dr. Bombay, come right away." If you want to talk about a genie, it's just Geist like ghost. You know, like Poltergeist. Or if you want to discuss one that specifically lives in a bottle, it's a Flaschengeist.