German Swear Words and Insults: Meanings, Pronunciation and Examples
German swear words do not always carry the same force as their English translations. This guide explains what expressions such as Scheiße, Arschloch and Fick dich mean, how they are pronounced and where you might hear them. Each of the 71 entries includes an English meaning, a German example, audio and a rough indication of how offensive it is. You will also learn to tell everyday slang from an insult aimed at someone.
Words you are likely to hear
Scheiße can mean “shit” or “damn”; Arschloch is “asshole”; Fick dich means “fuck you”; Verdammt is “damn”; and Halt die Fresse is an aggressive way to tell someone to shut up. A frustrated outburst is different from an insult directed at another person.
10 well-known German swear words and insults
Start here for a short list. The words progress from relatively mild exclamations to very offensive phrases aimed at people.
| German | Meaning | Severity | 🔊 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mist mist | crap; darn; literally manure | ●○○ mild | |
| Verdammt fair-DAMT | damn; damn it | ●○○ mild | |
| Trottel TROT-uhl | fool; dolt | ●○○ mild | |
| Depp dep | fool; dimwit | ●○○ mild | |
| Scheiße SHY-suh | shit; damn | ●●○ rude | |
| Idiot ee-dee-OHT | idiot | ●●○ rude | |
| Arschloch ARSH-lokh | asshole | ●●● very rude | |
| Fick dich fik dikh | fuck you | 🔥🔥🔥 extremely rude | |
| Halt die Fresse halt dee FRES-suh | shut your trap; shut the fuck up | 🔥🔥🔥 extremely rude | |
| Verpiss dich fair-PIS dikh | fuck off; piss off | 🔥🔥🔥 extremely rude |
German profanity, insults and rude phrases
Browse the entries for English meanings, pronunciation and examples in context. The labels distinguish an outburst such as Scheiße from a personal insult such as Arschloch and from ordinary slang.
Scheiße
A common exclamation of frustration, often aimed at no one.
Damn, I missed the last train!
Arschloch
A strong insult directed at a person.
He shouted at the waitress. What an asshole!
Fick dich
An extremely offensive phrase aimed at someone.
After the argument, he shouted “Fuck you!” after her.
Verdammt
A common exclamation of annoyance.
Damn, I completely forgot the appointment.
Mist
A milder outburst than Scheiße.
Darn, I left my phone at home.
Idiot
An insult, though not a particularly obscene word.
He crossed the street against the light. What an idiot!
Trottel
A fairly mild everyday insult.
I left the key in the lock. What a fool I am!
Depp
Especially common in southern Germany.
He threw away the form before sending it. What a fool!
Halt die Fresse
An aggressively rude demand for silence.
As the argument escalated, he yelled, “Shut your trap!”
Verpiss dich
A very rude command to leave.
When he showed up at her door again, she just said, “Fuck off.”
Scheißegal
A vulgar intensifier of egal, meaning indifferent.
By now, I don't give a shit whether they invite me.
Scheiß drauf
A rude way to say something no longer matters.
Tickets are sold out? Screw it, let's do something else.
Scheißdreck
An angry word for something bad or useless.
The instructions don't match the device at all. What a load of crap!
Scheißkerl
A harsh insult for a person.
He lied to us and disappeared, that bastard.
Arsch
Used literally and in many German insults and idioms.
He called me an asshole just because I disagreed with him.
Leck mich am Arsch
A set rude phrase; a literal translation may miss the tone.
“Kiss my ass!” he shouted and slammed the door.
Für'n Arsch
Used when an effort or situation comes to nothing.
We waited three hours and then the appointment was cancelled. What a waste.
Am Arsch sein
Depending on context, it can mean being in trouble or completely worn out.
After a twelve-hour shift, I'm completely wiped out.
Du gehst mir auf den Sack
A very rude expression of irritation.
When you call every five minutes, you really get on my nerves.
Wichser
A very offensive insult directed at a person.
During the argument, someone called the driver a “wanker.”
Hurensohn
An especially severe personal insult.
Someone used the word “Hurensohn” during the argument; after that, the mood turned sour.
Fotze
An extremely offensive word for female genitals and a particularly vicious insult.
The abusive message contained the word “Fotze.”
Pimmel
A crude word for penis, sometimes used to mock someone.
He giggled at the word “Pimmel” while everyone else wanted to get back to work.
Schwanz
Literally tail; in a sexual context, penis.
In the changing room, he made an embarrassing joke about his dick.
Ficken
A very vulgar verb for having sex.
The word “ficken” has no place in a formal conversation.
Verfickt
A vulgar intensifier before a noun.
This fucking app keeps crashing!
Mistkerl
A harsh insult, though less severe than Hurensohn.
“You bastard, you left me standing in the rain!” she complained.
Drecksack
A strong insult for someone contemptible.
He took the money and never contacted us again, that scumbag.
Dreckskerl
A harsh insult aimed at a person.
He promised to help and then left her alone. What a bastard!
Schwein
Literally pig; an insult when applied to a person.
“You pig!” she shouted after reading the message.
Sau
A crude colloquial insult that also appears in compounds.
He simply threw his rubbish on the ground. “You pig!” someone shouted.
Drecksau
A forceful, contemptuous insult.
“You filthy pig, pick up your rubbish!” the neighbour shouted.
Schlampe
A demeaning word whose meaning depends on context.
He called his ex-girlfriend a “slut”; everyone at the table fell silent.
Zicke
A gendered, dismissive insult.
“Don't be such a bitch,” he said when she disagreed with him.
Bastard
A harsh personal insult.
“You bastard!” he shouted after the man who had pushed him.
Vollidiot
An intensified form of Idiot.
He drove through the red light at the junction. What a complete idiot.
Schwachkopf
An insult about someone's intelligence.
“Who puts a hot pot on a plastic table? What a dimwit!” she cried.
Dummkopf
A relatively mild everyday insult.
I left the ticket at home. What a fool I am!
Blödmann
A relatively mild everyday insult.
He painted the wrong door. “You idiot, I meant the other one!” she said.
Spinner
A colloquial insult often used for odd behaviour.
He really thinks all the neighbours are spying on him. What a weirdo.
Penner
A derogatory term, including when used for a person without housing.
Calling people without housing “Penner” is demeaning.
Assi
Short for asozial; a disparaging label.
He throws rubbish out of his car window. What a lout.
Opfer
Normally victim, but an insult in some youth slang.
During the argument, he called his classmate a “loser.”
Lappen
A colloquial insult for someone seen as weak or inept.
“Come on, you wimp, dare to do it!” someone in the group shouted.
Lauch
A mocking youth slang term for a thin or supposedly weak person.
“Put on a jacket, you weakling, it's draughty in here!” his friend joked.
Spast
A discriminatory insult linked to disability; best avoided.
“Spast” is a discriminatory insult that should be avoided.
Pisser
A crude personal insult.
He pushed to the front of the queue. “Get lost, you little shit!” someone shouted.
Kacke
Similar to Scheiße, often somewhat milder.
The presentation is gone. What a load of crap!
Kackvogel
An inventive, sometimes half-joking insult.
“You little shit, that was my last coffee!” he said half-jokingly.
Kotzbrocken
Conveys strong disgust toward a person.
He constantly says nasty things about everyone. What an obnoxious jerk.
Zum Kotzen
A crude judgment about a situation.
The way he humiliated his colleague in public was sickening.
Verarschen
Can sound playful or angry depending on tone.
“Are you messing with me? The train doesn't leave for another hour!” she said.
Bescheißen
A crude verb meaning to cheat or deceive.
He tried to cheat me during the card game.
Was zum Teufel?
Milder than most obscene phrases.
What the hell is my bicycle doing in your basement?
Verdammt nochmal
An emphatic form of Verdammt.
For God's sake, will you finally listen!
Meine Fresse
An informal outburst of shock or annoyance.
Holy crap, that was close!
Mann!
An emotional exclamation, not a swear word.
Oh, come on! Another hour's delay!
Alter
Informal address, not inherently insulting; tone matters.
Dude, did you see that goal?
Digga
A common informal way to address someone, not a swear word.
Bro, I finally did it!
Junge
Not a swear word; meaning depends on tone.
Man, why didn't you tell me sooner?
Krass
An expressive slang word, not an insult.
The exam was insanely hard, but I passed.
Geil
Often just means awesome in everyday speech.
The view from up here is amazing!
Bekloppt
A common colloquial way to call something or someone crazy.
Are you nuts? You want to drive in this storm?
Bescheuert
Can describe a person, an idea or a situation.
It's ridiculous to leave the door open when it's below freezing.
Vollpfosten
A comic sounding but still insulting word.
He deleted the file before backing it up. What an idiot.
Hohlkopf
An insult aimed at someone's intelligence.
Anyone who blocks the emergency exit is an idiot.
Eierkopf
A teasing, often comic insult.
He calls me “egghead” because I always ask questions in class.
Pfeife
A fairly mild colloquial insult.
He forgot the documents again, the bungler.
Flachpfeife
A comic, colloquial insult.
The mechanic fitted the wrong tyres. What a bungler.
Dumpfbacke
A mocking colloquial insult.
She looked for her keys in the fridge. “You dimwit,” her brother laughed.
Blödian
Relatively mild and a little old-fashioned.
“You silly fool, we're meeting tomorrow!” she wrote with a laugh.
The harshest German insults
Fick dich, Verpiss dich, Hurensohn, Wichser and Halt die Fresse are far more aggressive than everyday words such as Mist or Trottel. The relationship between speakers, their tone and the situation matter. A word used jokingly among friends may be deeply offensive when directed at a stranger.
Milder curses and everyday insults
“Darn!” or “Crap!” Usually expresses frustration without attacking a person.
“Damn!” Emotional, but milder than a direct insult.
“Fool” or “dolt.” An insult, though less severe than Arschloch.
“Fool” or “dimwit.” Especially familiar in southern Germany.
Rude German phrases and what they mean
| Phrase | Natural English meaning | How it sounds |
|---|---|---|
| Leck mich am Arsch! | Kiss my ass! / Get lost! | A set, rude expression; a literal translation may miss its force. |
| Du gehst mir auf den Sack. | You're getting on my fucking nerves. | A very rude expression of irritation. |
| Willst du mich verarschen? | Are you taking the piss? / Are you kidding me? | Can be playful or aggressive, depending on tone. |
| Scheiß drauf! | Fuck it! / Screw it! | Crude, but not necessarily aimed at someone. |
| Das ist zum Kotzen. | That's sickening. | A strong judgment about a situation. |
German slang often mistaken for swearing
Not every emotional word is a swear word. Digga, Alter and Junge occur in casual speech and are not insults by themselves. Tone and context can change how they come across.
Fluchwort, Schimpfwort and Vulgarismus: what is the difference?
A curse or outburst such as Scheiße! It may have no target at all.
An insult aimed at a person, such as Arschloch, Trottel or Wichser.
Vulgar language about sex, the body or bodily functions. It is not always an insult.
Informal words such as Digga and Alter. They can be overly familiar without being obscene.
Regional differences in German swearing
Colloquial German varies by region. Depp is particularly common in southern Germany, while Bavaria and Austria have their own expressions. Scheiße, Arschloch, Verdammt and Fick dich are understood much more widely.
Can you be fined for an insult in Germany?
A swear word does not automatically lead to a fine. Depending on the circumstances, a statement directed at someone may amount to Beleidigung (insult) under section 185 of Germany's Criminal Code (StGB). The provision allows a fine or up to one year in prison; for an insult committed publicly, at a meeting, by disseminating content or by means of an assault, the maximum prison term is two years.
What if the other person is a police officer?
An ordinary insult directed at a police officer is assessed under the general rule in section 185 StGB. There is no automatic fine for a particular word; the context matters.
German Criminal Code — official English translation ↗ · Section 40 StGB — official German text ↗
Why do many German swear words refer to the body?
Many familiar German profanities draw on bodily functions, anatomy or sex: Scheiße, Arsch, ficken and their compounds. Milder exclamations and regional expressions also exist, so a literal English translation does not always capture how forceful a word sounds.
The practical distinction is between an emotional reaction, a phrase used casually among friends and an aggressive insult addressed to someone else.
Common questions about German swear words
How do you say “swear word” in German?
Fluchwort is a curse or expletive; Schimpfwort is an insulting word directed at someone. The choice depends on what you mean.
What does Scheiße mean?
Literally “shit.” As an exclamation of frustration, it can also be closer to “damn” or “crap.”
What does Fick dich mean?
It means “fuck you” and is an extremely rude phrase aimed at a person.
How is Scheiße pronounced?
IPA: [ˈʃaɪ̯sə], roughly “SHY-suh.” Listen to a full example in the dictionary or the word alone in the top-10 table.
Is Digga a swear word?
No. It is an informal way to say “dude” or “bro.”
Can using Arschloch lead to a fine?
There is no fixed fine for a particular word. Whether an expression amounts to a criminal insult depends on the circumstances.
