Popo
/ˈpoːpo/
In German, the English word 'bum' (referring to buttocks) is translated as Popo.
Popo is used to refer to the buttocks.
Meaning: informal: butt(ocks) specifically (noun)
Which one should you use?
Popo is a mild, often childish term. In contrast, Arsch is a much more vulgar and blunt term for the same body part.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you are referring to a person without a home, use the formal terms Obdachloser or Person ohne festen Wohnsitz. If you mean a person who is a 'bum' in a social sense, such as a 'good-for-nothing' or 'loafer', you might use the informal terms Taugenichts or Faulenzer or the informal term Penner for a person without a home.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Popo is Popos.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpoːpo/
Did you know?
- While Popo sounds quite silly and lighthearted, it is derived from the Latin word podex, which is a formal anatomical term for the buttocks.
- The word Popo is a reduplication, a linguistic process where a sound or syllable is repeated to create a new word. This is a very common way in German to create 'baby talk' or diminutives that sound cute or harmless.
- Because Popo is considered nursery language, using it in a professional or adult context can make a speaker sound unintentionally infantile.
Examples in context
- Mein Popo tut weh.My butt hurts.
- Das Kind hat einen runden Popo.The child has a round butt.
- Ich sitze direkt auf meinem Popo.I am sitting directly on my butt.
Example conversation
Laura and Maximilian are talking about a long car ride.
- LauraIch sitze viel zu lange auf meinem Popo.I am sitting on my butt for much too long.
- MaximilianMöchtest du eine Pause machen, Laura?Would you like to take a break, Laura?
- LauraJa, mein Popo ist ganz taub.Yes, my butt is completely numb.
- MaximilianDann sollten wir bald anhalten.Then we should stop soon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Popo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Popo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
