German Words to Avoid - S
Inappropriate, Offensive, or Vulgar Words
A Special Slang Dictionary
An annotated German-English Glossary
of “bad” Words and Expressions
ALSO SEE > Confusing Words | False Friends
ACHTUNG! WARNING! Some people may find the words and expressions in this German glossary objectionable. This is a special glossary of slang words and other expressions in German that need to be used with caution—or simply avoided.
S
der Sack (Säcke) bag, sac, sack; scrotum, balls (testicles); bastard, bugger, sod
ein fauler Sack a lazy bum, lazy bastard/bugger (degree of harshness depends on circumstances/tone of voice)
eine faule Socke a lazy bum (less harsh than "fauler Sack")
Es/Er geht mir auf den Sack. It's/He's a pain in the ass.
der Sadomaso S&M, sadomasochism
der Samen sperm, semen
der Samenerguss cum, ejaculation, seminal discharge
die Samenflüssigkeit cum, ejaculation, seminal discharge
die Sau sow, bitch, bastard
alte Landsau stupid old bitch, dumb bastard (lit., old country sow)
Also see "Schwein" below!
Sau- prefix bloody, damn, lousy
die Sauarbeit damned/bloody/lousy work
das Sauwetter damned/bloody/lousy weather
saugen to suck; to vacuum
The German word is here only because English-speakers tend to think—erroneously—it can be used for "that sucks." To say something "sucks" (is bad), see "Scheiße" below.
die Scham shame; private parts, genitals, vulva (fem.)
das Schamhaar pubic hair
die Schamlippen labia, lips of the vulva
scharf hot, horny, sexually aroused
Ich bin scharf auf ihn. I have the hots for him.
die Scheide (-n) vagina
The Rammstein song lyric "bis der Tod der Scheide" is a play on this word and the phrase "bis der Tod euch scheidet" (till death you do part) in their song "Du hast." See full lyrics.
der Scheiß / die Scheiße sh--, crap, damn, bloody (Br.)
It is important to know that the German and English versions of the s-word are not always equal. The English subtitles of German movies often mistranslate the German expletive Scheiße! Its use in German is frequently closer to English "Damn!" or "Dammit!" To say "This town really sucks," you could say: Diese Stadt ist echt Scheiße. Although it sometimes isn't as strong a curse word as English "Sh--!" that doesn't mean you should casually use Scheiße! in German. An expression such as Dieses Scheißauto! could mean "This f-ing car!" or "This damned car!" - depending on how it is said and by whom. There is nothing more pathetic than an English-speaker using "bad" German words he/she really doesn't understand.
Scheiß- prefix lousy, sh--ty, bloody (Br.), crappy, damned (thing)
This prefix, like its cousin above, often should be translated as "damned" (thing), or something more mild than you might think. For instance, when a German says So ein Scheißwetter!, it only means that the weather is really bad: "Such awful weather!" By the same token, Diese Scheißpolitiker! means "These damned politicians!" (a universal complaint). Also see "Sau-".
scheißegal adj. of no damned importance
Das ist mir (doch) scheißegal! I don't (really) give a damn/f---/sh-- (about that)!
scheißen to sh--, crap
Du scheißt mich an! You're sh---in' me!/You're a pain in the ass!
Ich scheiß' d'rauf! I don't give a damn/f---/sh-- (about that)!
der Scheißkerl bastard, son-of-a-bitch, motherf---er
das Schlitzauge (-n) chink, gook, slant-eye
schwanger pregnant
der Schwanz cock, prick, dick; tail (end) (lit. "tail" of animal)
der Schwanzlutscher c---sucker
der Schwarze (-n) black person, negro
eine Schwarze a black person, a negress (f.)
ein Schwarzer a black person, a negro (m.)
das Schwein pig, bastard, son of a bitch, swine
This is one of the worst words in German! NEVER use it (or its compounds) unless you know what you're doing, and probably not even then! Ironically, Schwein haben means to be lucky: Wir haben Schwein gehabt. = We were lucky. (We came out smelling like a rose.)
Schweine-/Schweins- (prefix) dirty, lousy (something/someone)
der Schweinehund/der Schweinekerl bastard, swine
die Schweinerei (-en) mess, scandal; dirty trick; indecent act, dirt, filth
So eine Schweinerei! How disgusting!/What a dirty trick!
schwul (adj.) gay, homosexual (see note below)
der Schwule (-n) gay man, male homosexual
ein Schwuler a gay man, a male homosexual
NOTE: Do not confuse schwul (gay) with schwül (humid, muggy). The umlaut over the u is important. - Also see: Lesbe and kesser Vater.
NOTE: Words such as schwul or Schwule are not generally considered "objectionable"—especially in Germany—but are included here because there are times when talking about someone's sexual orientation might be considered inappropriate.
die Selbstbefriedigung masturbation
der Sex sex
sexaktiv sexually active
der Sexist sexist
der Sexismus sexism
die Sexualität sexuality
sexuell sexual
die Soße come/cum (normally, sauce, gravy)
das Sperma sperm
das Spermizid spermicide
der Ständer hard-on
einen Ständer bekommen / haben to get / have a hard-on
NOTE: This word also has the non-slang meaning of 'stand' or 'rack' in an office or home setting. The German title for the "Austin Powers" spy spoof Goldmember (2002) was "Goldständer."
der Strich prostitution; red-light district
auf den Strich gehen to be a prostitute, ply her / his wares
der Stricher male prostitute, rent boy
der Bubistrich male prostitution; male red-light district
die Stricherin female prostitute, hooker, tart
der Strichjunge male prostitute, rent boy
das Strichmädchen female prostitute, hooker, tart
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