How to Say "Bad Word" in German

Schimpfwort

/ˈʃɪmpfˌvɔʁt/

The German word for bad word is Schimpfwort.

Schimpfwort is a noun used to refer to a word that is used to insult or scold someone.

Meaning: vulgar word (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

This is a compound noun consisting of Schimpf (scolding or reproach) and Wort (word).

While Schimpfwort is a general term for an insulting word, Fluchwort specifically refers to a curse or a swear word.

The word is a neuter noun, so it is used with the article das (e.g., das Schimpfwort). The plural form of the noun is Schimpfwörter.

/ˈʃɪmpfˌvɔʁt/

In some regions of Southern Germany and Austria, a Schimpfwort can be used as a friendly term of endearment depending on the speaker's tone.
German speakers often show off their creativity by chaining multiple nouns together to invent highly specific and long Schimpfwörter that do not exist in a standard dictionary.
While Schimpfwort refers to an insult, the root word schimpfen is frequently used in modern German to mean simply 'to grumble' or 'to complain' without necessarily being vulgar.

Die Qualität dieser Arbeit ist wirklich minderwertig.
The quality of this work is really substandard.
Verdammt! Ich habe meinen Zug verpasst.
Damn! I missed my train.
Das ist ein sehr schlimmes Schimpfwort.
That is a very bad swear word.
Er hat ein Schimpfwort benutzt, als er sich verletzte.
He used a swear word when he hurt himself.

Maximilian and Julia are discussing a movie they just watched.

Maximilian

Der Film war okay, aber jedes Schimpfwort war zu laut.
The movie was okay, but every swear word was too loud.
Julia

Stimmt, das war wirklich etwas übertrieben.
True, that was really a bit exaggerated.
Maximilian

Ich mag solche Schimpfwörter in Filmen nicht.
I do not like such swear words in movies.
Julia

Das verstehe ich, Maximilian.
I understand that, Maximilian.

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