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Scheisse! And other very Bad Foreign Words
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There's something very satisfying about swearing in a foreign language. First off, it's not like you're really swearing. It's just some strange word that has never had any relevance or connotation to you before.
But now, just because someone told you that this odd arrangement of letters you've never seen actually means something very bad, the word itself becomes your dirty little secret, something you can heft around at will when you return home that won't cause any damage to others, but will more than satisfy that primal urge to yell something horribly nasty on occasion.
During the course of my travels, I've come across a number of such words, thoughtfully provided by snickering locals who are simply beside themselves that some random American tourist can now say sh*t in Czech. This, folks, is globalization at its best.
Of all the swearwords I've learned, however, only one has truly remained with me, ready to be pulled out at moment's notice whenever the situation warrants: Scheisse!
I can thank the Germans for this little wonder, so very short, succinct, and cutting. I love the way it rolls nastily off the tongue in a sort of aggravated exhale. Scheisse!
See, doesn't it just sound great? And most of you don't even know what it means!
I'm sure some of our fine readers have accumulated a few choice words of their own while traveling. If you care to share, spend a moment and type them out in the comment section below. But please don't include their English translation! Foreign swearwords lose their power when their true meanings are revealed.
Of all the swearwords I've learned, however, only one has truly remained with me, ready to be pulled out at moment's notice whenever the situation warrants: Scheisse!
I can thank the Germans for this little wonder, so very short, succinct, and cutting. I love the way it rolls nastily off the tongue in a sort of aggravated exhale. Scheisse!
See, doesn't it just sound great? And most of you don't even know what it means!
I'm sure some of our fine readers have accumulated a few choice words of their own while traveling. If you care to share, spend a moment and type them out in the comment section below. But please don't include their English translation! Foreign swearwords lose their power when their true meanings are revealed.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
Hmmm Aug 11th 2008 12:29PM
With being 1/2 German my father has taught me some very good german and some even better curse words lol!
Fick dich=f*ck you (obv)
Scheisse gesicht=Sh*t face all good stuff!
Linde Mar 9th 2009 3:29PM
Here are some great Dutch curses!
Godverdomme
Steek een vinger in je hol
Stinkhomo
Teringlijer
Hansworst
Eikel
Randdebiel
Je moeder
Anuslijer
Schijtkind
Zak door de schijt
Klootzak
Flikker
Potverdriedubbeltjes
Lelijke kutkop
Aardappelhoofd
Vetkwab
Had enough? =D
Barboza Feb 2nd 2010 8:46PM
German:
Scheiße Kopf - easy to figure out
Fick Dich
Arschloch
Since i am fully Costa Rican born i know spanish:
Mierda
Puta
Puto
Hijo de Puta/o
Hijueputa(Costa Rica)
Malparido
Hijo de la chingada
Coño
Joto
Playo(Costa Rica)
Pendejo
and many more that i can't remember at the moment.
PS:To BUNSON44, its Puñeta and its not a curse word. Maricon isnt considered a curse word either, at least in Latino America.
Nate Sep 5th 2007 4:56PM
My Puerto Rican friend always says, "Carajo!" (pronounced car-ah-ho). It's come in handy when I'm around small children and bash my toe.
Geedavey Sep 5th 2007 8:37PM
Pendejo! (pen-DE-ho)
(you) Puta! (POO-tah, feminine; PAH-to, masculine)
(you) Maricon! (Mah-ree-COHN)
Ay, Conyo! (COHN-yoh)
Stugatz! (Stoo-GATZ)
Va-t'en!/, cochon!) (VAH-t'-AHN!/, Coh-SHOHN)
Lidfoch-otach! (Leed-FOKH oh-TAHKH!)
Kus amuch! (Koos ah-MUHKH)
Just a choice selection in a variety of tongues.
Michael Sep 6th 2007 1:53PM
Bag Pula - romania
bunson44 Sep 6th 2007 3:55PM
punyeta!
sonam Sep 11th 2007 12:27PM
ma-chiknay it's a Nepalese curse word.
salay -in Hindi
sala- in Nepalese
harami - in Hindi
haram khor - in Hindi
Alma Sep 7th 2007 12:55PM
Fan också! (faan ohk-sooh)
Helvete! (hell-vete)
Two Swedish useful words!
darth rend Sep 7th 2007 8:38PM
All German curse words:
Verdammt
Arschloch
Fick
"Haut ab"(to more than one person)
Hölle
Deron Sep 7th 2007 9:19PM
scunt-Guyana, South America
Marcelos M de Paula Sep 8th 2007 1:56AM
here some in portuguese:
porra
caralho
buceta
foda-se
merda
vai tomar no cu'
que se foda esta porra
filha da puta
viado
boiola
seu porra
Debbiec Sep 10th 2007 12:20PM
What absolute fun! My favorite:
Va fan culo
Italian, can be followed with hand gesture to be sure you were understood.
xbaseballderekx Sep 10th 2007 12:20PM
diablo inferno ~ spanish try to guess what it means
Ginger Sep 8th 2007 11:23AM
Oy-Vey If my memory serves it is a Swedish swear word
babyapplez81 Sep 10th 2007 12:28PM
bat po
Robin Sep 10th 2007 9:15AM
Merde (French)
Mereille Sep 10th 2007 12:25PM
Tu salope or salope- (two-sa-loop)
Je m'en fiche!- (shuh-mon-feesh)
Merde-(Merrd)
All of these are french.
K Sep 10th 2007 8:10PM
skata (ska-TAH) Greek
chara (can't really do a phonetic) Hebrew (those 2 mean the same thing)
ben zona (ben zoh-NAH) Hebrew
ibn cad (ibn CAHD) Arabic (those 2 mean the same thing)
VAKH! Mongolian
chadpfan Sep 10th 2007 8:15PM
It's Va fa in cuolo. Italian and very dirty.