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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 7 of 7)
Dev Stack Sep 11th 2007 3:16AM
I remember my mother calling my ex-wife "ya-chee schmeen-yoff" (phonetic) in Polish. I took it to mean something about a bitch dog.
Dupa-yosh was used quite often in our house as well.
Die me buje dupya meant kiss my ass.
Allie Sep 11th 2007 3:41AM
9,11,14...oooooooo I know what you said ooooooo
jim from ny Sep 11th 2007 4:46AM
muelde la cabeza
p icha me hone
diane Sep 11th 2007 5:22AM
chinese ma-ka-hai
k williams Sep 11th 2007 5:06AM
Don't blame the words for being regared as not being nice. So called swear words are made by the minds of people. Often the words were the normal words used by a people but became swear words because of changes in a language. Example, f--k was the normal word in England for intercourse. But in 1055 with the Norman conquest old English was being outdated by many latin or French words. You cannot not say," I intercoursed her". You f--cked her is proper English, so it is so for most so called swear words. Sh-t was the normal word for feces and not a swear word in old English. English originallt came from Saxony, Germany, and had umlauts just as in German today.
RedBird Sep 11th 2007 5:15AM
My Cherokee Grandfather would frequently utter "dook Shan" a variation on #83. "Ook Shan" - which I agree is certainly Cherokee
diane Sep 11th 2007 5:22AM
actually #109 may be correct but the curse word F.U.C.K. originated waaaaay before England used it to mean intercourse. Back in the day when they still hung people on crosses,(ya remember J.C. had I.N.R.I. above his head???
Well, some of the not so good guys were nailed to the cross for other things. Such as F.U.C.K. which meantFor Unlawful Carnal Knowledge...........Lady Di
Tim Sep 11th 2007 5:22AM
and then there's :
p'tak ...
(Klingon, worst insult in that language ... it means "coward")
Gayle Sep 11th 2007 5:58AM
ok..I love the fact you have all shared curse words in different languages,,buttttt,it would have helped if you had told us what they mean,,lol.
John Johnston Sep 11th 2007 6:28AM
Japanese (u vowel sound is kind of a schwa Ə and is barely audible):
Kusō
Jikushō
Joanna Sep 11th 2007 8:09AM
The phrase van fan cuolo, dspite what most people think it means, its not as foul a phrase as thought.
It (translated) means "Up your a__"
Michelle Sep 11th 2007 8:20AM
Oh Damn works well it's English for Sua San Janito
Monique Sep 11th 2007 9:48AM
Arabic, learned from hubby:
haiawan
sharmuta
deacon Sep 11th 2007 7:16PM
Du kannst meinem arsh lecken, und sheiss essen, du alte hexe.
Spelling may be incorrect, but think of it as phonetic....German, of course
Mia Sep 11th 2007 8:54PM
I didn't see one Danish curse word. Not a one. Well, here's one for you:
Skvaddernose
And I might as well tell you all what it means, or hell, what's the point? Means @sshole.
Kirst Sep 17th 2007 6:52AM
German:
Schweinehund
jalkor Oct 22nd 2007 7:54AM
Here's some Finnish curse words
Vittu
Perkele
Saatana
Helvetti
Runkkari
Hintti/Hinttari
Jason Nov 28th 2007 5:56AM
I am German - I'll give u some more evil words :
Hurensohn.
Missgeburt.
Arschgeburt.
Geh dir ein' Lutschen, du Penner!
Behindertes Scheisskind.
Fresse, Spasti.
Schwuchtel
Krueppel
Schwanzlutscher
There are so many...
Ben Dec 8th 2007 10:19PM
puta
walanghiya
magnanakaw
kainin kita
malaki puki
mabaho kiki
malaki titi
salsalin mo titi ko
buto mo
demonyo
kainin mo buto ko
sipsipin mo titi ko
gago
tanga
iyutin kita sa puwit
mabaho ang puke mo
and many many more.......