{"id":94559,"date":"2024-02-15T10:25:03","date_gmt":"2024-02-15T15:25:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/curse-words-in-german\/"},"modified":"2025-05-23T12:20:49","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T16:20:49","slug":"curse-words-in-german","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/german\/curse-words-in-german\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Popular Curse Words in German"},"content":{"rendered":"

Knowing curse words in German can help you better understand and shimmy into casual, everyday conversation<\/a>. Plus, it\u2019s always good to know when someone isn\u2019t being polite<\/a> or friendly.<\/p>\n

When it comes to vulgar terms, the German language doesn\u2019t disappoint. Check out some of the most common curse words below.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. Arsch<\/em> \u2014 Ass<\/h2>\n

The not-so-polite term for one\u2019s rear end. The appeal of this curse word is that it can be used in so many creative ways.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

Arsch<\/strong>loch<\/em> \u2014 Asshole<\/p>\n

Arsch<\/strong>geige<\/em> \u2014 Ass-violin (lit.)<\/p>\n

Arsch<\/strong>gesicht<\/em> \u2014 Ass-face<\/p>\n

Arsch<\/strong> mit Ohren<\/em> \u2014 Ass with ears (lit.)<\/p>\n

All of these suggest that someone is contemptible and acting like an utter fool. I will admit, Arschgeige<\/em> takes my vote as the favorite of the lot.<\/p>\n

Arsch<\/em> can also be included in phrases that clearly express you don\u2019t care at all about a person\u2019s opinion, such as:<\/p>\n

Leck mich am Arsch.<\/strong><\/em> \u2014 Kiss my ass. (lit. “Lick my ass”)<\/p>\n

Du hast wohl den<\/em> Arsch <\/strong>offen. \u2014 You must be out of your mind. (lit. “You must have the ass open”)<\/p>\n

Das geht mir am Arsch<\/strong> vorbei.<\/em> \u2014 I don\u2019t give a crap. (lit. “That goes past my ass”)<\/p>\n

2. Bl\u00f6dsinn<\/em> \u2014 Nonsense, BS<\/h2>\n

Bl\u00f6dsinn<\/em> seems to be derived from the old word bl\u00f6dsinnig<\/em>, meaning idiotic. It\u2019s also more informal than Unsinn<\/em>, the more socially acceptable German word with a similar meaning.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a good choice to describe what you think is utter bunk and rubbish. Make sure to pronounce the umlaut<\/a> in that \u00f6<\/em>, as any insult can lose its energy when misspoken!<\/p>\n

Das ist doch Bl\u00f6dsinn<\/strong>!<\/em> \u2014 That is utter nonsense!<\/p>\n

3. Depp<\/em> \u2014 Idiot<\/h2>\n

Is someone giving you a headache because of how much of a fool they are? Calling them Depp<\/em> is a mean, albeit not too-terrible way to let them know. It\u2019s often used teasingly among friends, so it shouldn\u2019t deeply hurt feelings with its usage.<\/p>\n

In truth, Depp<\/em> actually encompasses a broad range of meanings (including “jerk” and “loser”), making it a rather flexible insult.<\/p>\n

Das ist der falsche Weg, du Depp<\/strong>.<\/em> \u2014 That\u2019s the wrong way, you idiot.<\/p>\n

4. Donnerwetter<\/em> \u2014 Dang, Gosh, Shoot<\/h2>\n

Donnerwetter<\/em> literally means “thunder weather” or “thunderstorm.” Typically, it works as a mild, politer expression of frustration or shock, quite like the English “Golly” or “Jeez.”<\/p>\n

However, it can also become more aggressive and emotive when used in certain contexts. For example, Zum Donnerwetter<\/em> basically means “Oh damn.”<\/p>\n

Donnerwetter<\/strong>, ich bin sp\u00e4t!<\/em> \u2014 Gosh, I\u2019m late!<\/p>\n

5. Dummkopf<\/em> \u2014 Dumb head\/Blockhead<\/h2>\n

A straight and to the point insult perfect for the resident dummy. It\u2019s not very vulgar, sometimes even considered childish, so it probably won\u2019t sway many German natives.<\/p>\n

Warum tr\u00e4gst du ein T-Shirt? Es ist Winter, Dummkopf<\/strong>!<\/em> \u2014 Why are you wearing a T-shirt? It\u2019s winter, dummy!<\/p>\n

6. Fick<\/em> \u2014 F word<\/h2>\n

It sounds quite the same as its English translation, making it easy to remember. It\u2019s also pretty much as offensive as its English counterpart, so make sure you really take care on when and how you use this one.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s commonly used within phrases, although sometimes one can shout Ficken<\/em> or Fick<\/em> just to express their anger. Here are a few other insults that utilize Fick<\/em>:<\/p>\n

Fick<\/strong>er<\/em> \u2014 Fucker<\/p>\n

Fick<\/strong> dich!<\/em> \u2014 Fuck you!<\/p>\n

Fick<\/strong> dich ins Knie!<\/em> \u2014 Go fuck yourself! (lit. “Fuck yourself in the knee”)<\/p>\n

7. Fotze<\/em> \u2014 Female genitalia<\/h2>\n

Fair warning: this one is considered very vulgar<\/strong>, so I advise you not to use it liberally (and never to a woman!). It\u2019s a rough equivalent to the English “c word.”<\/p>\n

Amusingly, in regions of Bavaria and Austria, Fotze<\/em> isn\u2019t so vulgar and refers to either a slap on the face or muzzle. But no matter where you are, just to be safe, perhaps you just keep this word to yourself.<\/p>\n

Pfui! Die Lehrerin ist ‘ne totale Fotze<\/strong>.<\/em> \u2014 Ugh! The teacher is a total c***.<\/p>\n

8. Geh zum Teufel<\/em> \u2014 Go to hell\/Screw you<\/h2>\n

It literally translates to “Go to the devil” and is used to passionately tell someone to back off or to express your anger at some miscreant. Alternatively, you could say Fahr zur H\u00f6lle<\/em>, which more closely means “Go to hell.”<\/p>\n

Personally, I prefer Geh zum Teufel<\/em> as it sounds a bit more wicked and rolls off the tongue quite easily.<\/p>\n

Geh zum Teufel<\/strong>, du Arschloch!<\/em> \u2014 Go to hell, you asshole!<\/p>\n

9. Hackfresse<\/em> \u2014 Shitface<\/h2>\n

A very mean way to call someone unattractive. It\u2019s derived from Hackfleisch<\/em> (ground meat) and Fresse<\/em>\u00a0(a crude term for the face or mouth).<\/p>\n

So, Hackfresse<\/em> basically means “face like minced meat,” an unfortunately apt way to express your disdain for someone\u2019s appearance.<\/p>\n

Du brauchst eine Maske, Hackfresse<\/strong>.<\/em> \u2014 You need a mask, shitface.<\/p>\n

10. Halt die Klappe<\/em> \u2014 Shut your trap<\/h2>\n

Halt den Mund<\/em> is already a rather rude way to tell someone to be quiet. Halt die Klappe<\/em> has a more crude edge that really expresses your intolerance of a person\u2019s constant yapping.<\/p>\n

If you want to take it a step further, you may say Halt die Fresse<\/em> or Halt die Schnauze<\/em>\u2014both of these are more vulgar and aggressive.<\/p>\n

Du bist so laut! Halt die Klappe<\/strong>!<\/em> \u2014 You are so loud! Shut your trap!<\/p>\n

11. Hure<\/em> \u2014 Whore<\/h2>\n

A very not nice thing to say to any lady, so don\u2019t be surprised if she\u2019s compelled to give you a slap in the face as a result. Somewhat like Arsch<\/em>, Hure<\/em> can also be attached to a few other nouns to make the insult more specific.<\/p>\n

Hure<\/strong>nsohn<\/em> \u2014 Son of a whore<\/p>\n

Hure<\/strong>nkind<\/em> \u2014 Child of a whore (bastard)<\/p>\n

Another word with a similar meaning is Nutte<\/em>, although Hure<\/em> and its negative meaning is probably easier to remember.<\/p>\n

Bleib weg von mir, du Hure<\/strong>!<\/em> \u2014 Stay away from me, you whore!<\/p>\n

12. Kacke<\/em> \u2014 Crap<\/h2>\n

Derived from the verb kacken<\/em>\u00a0(to poop), Kacke<\/em> is a less offensive term for “shit.” It\u2019s not so bad to use, definitely less impactful than the eminent Schei\u00dfe<\/em> (which is coming up on the list).<\/p>\n

That doesn\u2019t mean it can\u2019t be used in fun ways. It can be utilized in different verb formations and carry a bit more negative power, such as:<\/p>\n

Geh kacke<\/strong>n!<\/em> \u2014 Screw off!<\/p>\n

Robert hat sich eingekackt<\/strong><\/em> \u2014 Robert crapped his pants<\/p>\n

Sie hat voll abgekackt<\/strong><\/em> \u2014 She totally screwed up<\/p>\n

Wow, diese Party ist voll Kacke<\/strong>.<\/em> \u2014 Wow, this party is complete crap.<\/p>\n

13. (Der) Mist<\/em> \u2014 Dung, crap<\/h2>\n

No, you\u2019re not pointing out foggy weather conditions. Der Mist<\/em> refers quite literally to dung or manure. By itself, it\u2019s a mild interjection typically used to express frustration at little mistakes.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s toned down enough so that you won\u2019t be graced with finger-wagging from most German naives. However, if you combine it with a noun, it can become pretty nasty.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

Mist<\/strong>kerl<\/em> \u2014 Bastard<\/p>\n

Mist<\/strong>st\u00fcck<\/em> \u2014 Bitch<\/p>\n

Oh, Mist<\/strong>! Ich habe meine Fahrkarte verloren.<\/em> \u2014 Oh, crap! I lost my ticket.<\/p>\n

14. Sau\/Schwein<\/em> \u2014 Pig<\/h2>\n

In English, we have certain animals we like to use as the basis of insults, such as dog or ass (donkey). In German, the pig is a common animal of derision.<\/p>\n

Sau<\/em> (sow) and Schwein<\/em> (swine) are two words that you can use to express your scorn or distaste towards a person who\u2019s filthy or lazy. They can also be added to other words to amplify their derogatory meaning.<\/p>\n

Drecksau<\/strong><\/em> \u2014 Filthy swine<\/p>\n

Schwein<\/strong>ehund<\/em> \u2014 Bastard<\/p>\n

Sau<\/strong>mensch<\/em> \u2014 Sow person (for girls)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sau<\/strong>kerl<\/em> \u2014 Sow wretch\/bastard (for boys)<\/p>\n

15. Schei\u00dfe<\/em> \u2014 Shit<\/h2>\n

The all-time favorite of German natives, it\u2019s probably the most frequently used curse word used by everyone (children included, even if they shouldn\u2019t).<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also conveniently flexible in its usage, capable of being its own interjection or combined with other words for some very expressive profanity.<\/p>\n

St\u00fcck Schei\u00dfe<\/strong><\/em> \u2014 Piece of shit<\/p>\n

Erz\u00e4hl mir keinen Schei\u00df!<\/strong><\/em> \u2014 Don’t bullshit me!<\/p>\n

Das ist mir Schei\u00df<\/strong>egal!<\/em> \u2014 I don\u2019t give a shit!<\/p>\n

Geh s<\/strong>chei\u00dfe<\/strong>n!<\/em> \u2014 Get lost! (lit. “Go shit”)<\/p>\n

Schei\u00df<\/strong>typ<\/em> \u2014 Shit head<\/p>\n

Oh Schei\u00dfe<\/strong>! Heute ist Montag\u2026<\/em> \u2014 Oh shit! Today is Monday\u2026<\/p>\n

16. Schlampe<\/em> \u2014 Slut<\/h2>\n

Like Hure<\/em>, this isn\u2019t one that you should ever say to a woman. It\u2019s related to the adjective schlampig<\/em>, which more innocently means “sloppy” or “careless.”<\/p>\n

So next time you want to call out a woman who doesn\u2019t tidy up her house well, do take care that she understands what exactly you\u2019re implying about her.<\/p>\n

Das ist mein Freund, Schlampe<\/strong>.<\/em> \u2014 That is my boyfriend, slut.<\/p>\n

17. Verdammt<\/em> \u2014 Damn, Damn it<\/h2>\n

Like the English damn, verdammt<\/em> isn\u2019t too bad of a curse word. It can be used to add more oomph to an emotive statement, whether it\u2019s one of rage or delight.<\/p>\n

In certain contexts, it can be better translated to the intensifier English “fucking.”<\/p>\n

Verdammt<\/strong> noch mal!<\/em> \u2014 Damn it all!<\/p>\n

Du verdammt<\/strong>er Idiot!<\/em> \u2014 You damn idiot!<\/p>\n

Verdammt<\/strong>e Schei\u00dfe!<\/em> \u2014 Fucking hell! (lit. Damn shit!)<\/p>\n

Wo ist die verdammt<\/strong>e Fernbedienung?<\/em> \u2014 Where is the damned remote control?<\/p>\n

18. Verpiss dich<\/em> \u2014 Piss off<\/h2>\n

Another one of those convenient curse words with a meaning you\u2019d know at first glance. The dictionary form would be sich verpissen<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Since it\u2019s a reflexive verb<\/a>, make sure you don\u2019t forget that pronoun so the poor recipient of the insult doesn\u2019t forget that you\u2019re talking to them.<\/p>\n

Wenn du keinen Streit willst, dann verpiss dich<\/strong>.<\/em> \u2014 If you don\u2019t want a fight, then piss off.<\/p>\n

19. Was zur H\u00f6lle?<\/em> \u2014 What the hell?<\/h2>\n

Like its English translation, this is more of a personal interjection and less of a directed insult. However, it can also emphasize one\u2019s anger and disbelief at a person\u2019s actions. To hark back to Geh zum Teufel<\/em>, you may also say Was zum Teufel<\/em> for similar effect.<\/p>\n

Was zur H\u00f6lle<\/strong> machst du hier?<\/em> \u2014 What the hell are you doing here?<\/p>\n

20. Wichser<\/em> \u2014 Wanker<\/h2>\n

A derogatory term to describe a crude and unpleasant person, typically a man. Wichser<\/em> is derived from the verb wichsen<\/em>, which means “to beat” or, more directly, “to masturbate.”<\/p>\n

Calling someone a Wichser<\/em> doesn\u2019t necessarily have to carry sexual connotations\u2014rather than a pervert, you may just think he\u2019s a complete numbskull.<\/p>\n

Er ist so ein Wichser<\/strong>. Sprich nicht mit ihm.<\/em> \u2014 He is such a wanker. Don\u2019t speak to him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nYou might want to wash your mouth out with soap after this post!<\/p>\n

Although many Germans are no stranger to cussing on the daily, that doesn\u2019t mean you can start becoming a potty-mouth.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s better that you know what these curse words mean more than you use them! It might take some effort, but you don\u2019t want to genuinely offend a German person.<\/p>\n

And One More Thing...<\/h2>\r\n

\r\n\tIf you're like me and enjoy learning German through movies and other media, you should check out FluentU<\/strong><\/a>. With FluentU, you can turn any subtitled content on YouTube or Netflix into an engaging language lesson. \r\n<\/p>\r\n\t

\r\n\t\tI also love that FluentU has a huge library of videos picked specifically for German learners<\/strong>. No more searching for good content\u2014it's all in one place!\r\n<\/p>\r\n\"learn-german-with-videos\"<\/a>\r\n

\r\n\tOne of my favorite features is the interactive captions<\/strong>. You can tap on any word to see an image, definition, and examples, which makes it so much easier to understand and remember.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\n\"learn-german-vocab-with-fluentu\"<\/a> \r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nAnd if you're worried about forgetting new words, FluentU has you covered. You'll complete fun exercises to reinforce vocabulary<\/strong> and be reminded when it\u2019s time to review, so you actually retain what you\u2019ve learned.\r\n<\/p>

\r\n\"practice-german-with-adaptive-quizzes\"<\/a> \r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nYou can use FluentU on your computer or tablet, or download the app from the App Store or Google Play. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Knowing curse words in German can help you better understand and shimmy into casual, everyday conversation. Plus, it\u2019s always good to know when someone isn\u2019t being polite or friendly. When…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":413,"featured_media":94560,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"title":"20 Popular Curse Words in German | FluentU German Blog","description":"Learning curse words in German can definitely come in handy when trying to understand casual, everyday conversations. In this post, you can learn how to say common English curses in German, as well as plenty of uniquely German swear words and phrases. Check out these 20 popular German curse words."},"footnotes":""},"categories":[525,529,528],"tags":[],"coauthors":[185],"class_list":["post-94559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-german","category-slang-vocabulary","category-vocabulary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94559","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/413"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94559"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94559\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":253678,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94559\/revisions\/253678"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/94560"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=94559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=94559"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=94559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}