B1 Vocabulary · mature language
No textbook teaches them, but you’ll hear them within an hour of arriving in Germany: on the train, in football stadiums, from your colleague who just spilled coffee. Knowing German swear words is mostly about understanding what’s happening around you and knowing which words could get you into real trouble. This guide covers how to say “shit” in German, a mild-to-strong scale of common swear words and insults, when they’re acceptable, and polite alternatives you can safely use.
Content note
This page explains rude words for learning purposes. In Germany, insulting someone (Beleidigung) can be a criminal offense and may lead to a fine, especially if directed at police officers or officials. Understand these words; think twice before using them.
Quick answer
“Shit” in German is Scheiße, the most common German swear word, used like English “shit” or “damn”. A milder version is Mist (literally “manure”), which is fine in most everyday situations. “Asshole” is Arschloch, which is a strong insult. Safe alternatives for frustration are Mist!, Mensch! and Oh Mann!
This lesson is part of our German vocabulary hub.
Mild vs strong: a scale
| Word | Literal meaning | Used like | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mensch! / Oh Mann! | Human! / Oh man! | Oh man! Come on! | 1 · harmless |
| Mist! | manure | Damn! Darn it! | 1 · fine almost anywhere |
| Quatsch / Blödsinn | nonsense | Rubbish! Nonsense! | 1 · fine |
| Verdammt! | damned | Damn it! | 2 · mild |
| Kacke | crap (childish) | Crap | 2 · mild, casual |
| Scheiße! | shit | Shit! | 3 · common, but not for formal settings |
| Idiot / Trottel / Depp | idiot, fool | Idiot | 3 · insulting |
| Arsch | ass | Ass, jerk | 4 · rude |
| Arschloch | asshole | Asshole | 5 · strong insult |
| Wichser | wanker | Wanker, jerk-off | 5 · very offensive |
How to read the scale
1-2: fine among friends, often even at work. 3: common in casual speech, avoid in formal settings and with people you address as Sie. 4-5: real insults that can end friendships or lead to legal trouble.
Everyday exclamations: Mist, Scheiße
Mist
Mist literally means “manure”, but as an exclamation it’s the polite German “damn”. You can say it in front of your boss, your teacher or your grandmother. It also means “rubbish”: Das ist doch Mist! (That’s rubbish!), So ein Mist! (What a pain!).
Scheiße: how to say “shit” in German
Scheiße (pronounced “SHY-suh”) is the all-purpose German swear word. Germans use it surprisingly often and often casually, roughly like English “shit”.
Scheiße, ich habe meinen Schlüssel vergessen!Shit, I forgot my key!
Das Wetter ist echt scheiße.The weather is really crap.
Common combinations: So eine Scheiße! (What a mess!), Scheiße bauen (to screw up), and the intensifier scheiß-: das Scheißwetter (the damn weather). In writing you’ll also see Scheisse (Swiss spelling, or when ß isn’t available).
Verdammt and friends
Verdammt! (damn!) and Verdammt noch mal! (damn it all!) are mild. Older or more playful variants are Verflixt! and Verflucht!
Insults you will hear
| German | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Idiot, Vollidiot | idiot, complete idiot | Common, clearly insulting |
| Blödmann | stupid man, dummy | Mild-ish, a bit childish |
| Trottel | fool, twit | Mild to medium |
| Depp | fool, idiot | Southern Germany and Austria |
| Spinner | nutcase | Mild; Spinnst du? = “Are you crazy?” |
| Penner | bum, loser | Insulting |
| Arsch | ass, jerk | Rude |
| Arschloch | asshole | Strong, very offensive |
| Mistkerl | bastard, jerk | Strong |
Phrases to recognize
- Halt die Klappe! (Shut up!) is rude; Halt die Schnauze! is ruder.
- Spinnst du? / Bist du bescheuert? means “Are you crazy?” and is common among friends, insulting from strangers.
- Leck mich! roughly means “Get lost!” and is very rude.
- Du gehst mir auf die Nerven. (You’re getting on my nerves.) is not a swear phrase, just honest.
Why swear words stick in memory
Emotional words get special treatment in the brain: arousal strengthens memory, which is why learners remember Scheiße on day one but forget Schere (scissors) for weeks. Emotion also makes these words feel stronger in your first language than in a foreign one, so learners often underestimate how harsh a German insult sounds to a native. Another good reason to stay on the mild end.
Swearing at work and in public
- At work: Mist and Mensch are fine. Scheiße is common in many workplaces among colleagues, but avoid it with clients, customers and your boss until you know the culture.
- In public: loud swearing at strangers is socially unacceptable and, if insulting, can be reported.
- With police and officials: never. Insulting officials can lead to substantial fines.
- Gestures count too: the middle finger or tapping your forehead at another driver (einen Vogel zeigen) can also be treated as an insult.
Safer alternatives
| Instead of… | Say… | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Scheiße! | Mist! / So ein Mist! | Damn! / What a pain! |
| Verdammt! | Mensch! / Oh Mann! | Oh man! |
| Das ist Scheiße. | Das ist ärgerlich. / Das ist blöd. | That’s annoying. / That’s silly. |
| Idiot! | Das war nicht so clever. | That wasn’t so clever. |
| Halt die Klappe! | Kannst du bitte leiser sein? | Could you be quieter, please? |
| Anything strong | Ach du Schande! / Ach du meine Güte! | Oh dear! / Oh my goodness! |
Want to be polite instead? See our guide to German phrases and greetings, or learn how to apologize with Entschuldigung and Es tut mir leid.
FAQs
How do you say shit in German?
Scheiße (pronounced “SHY-suh”). A milder alternative is Mist.
How do you say asshole in German?
Arschloch. It’s a strong insult, and calling someone this can have legal consequences in Germany.
Is Scheiße a bad word in German?
It’s vulgar, but very common in casual speech, roughly as strong as “shit” in English. Avoid it in formal situations.
Is swearing illegal in Germany?
Swearing in general isn’t, but insulting a specific person (Beleidigung) is a criminal offense and can lead to fines.
What is a polite way to say “are you stupid?” in German?
There isn’t really a polite version. Spinnst du? (are you crazy?) is the mildest and works jokingly among friends. With anyone else, describe the problem instead: Das ergibt für mich keinen Sinn. (That doesn’t make sense to me.)
Understand the whole scale, use the mild end (Mist, Mensch, Oh Mann), and save the strong words for recognizing what’s said around you.
Sources and further reading: Check meanings and register labels (such as vulgär and derb) in Duden.
Keep learning → German Words Explained: meanings textbooks skip
