schwul
/ʃvuːl/
The English phrase 'homosexual' is translated into German as schwul or homosexuell.
Meaning: sexually attracted solely or primarily to the same sex (adj)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| schwul | /ʃvuːl/ |
| homosexuell | /ˌhomozɛksuˈɛl/ (standard) /-sɛksu-/ |
Both terms describe being sexually attracted solely or primarily to the same sex. In German, you can also use nouns like Homosexueller or Homosexuelle to refer to a person who is attracted to others of the same sex.
Which one should you use?
The term schwul is the common, everyday way to say 'gay' and is used more frequently in casual conversation. In contrast, homosexuell has a more formal, clinical or scientific tone.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃvuːl/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers might mistakenly use the formal homosexuell in casual social settings when the more natural and common choice would be schwul.
Did you know?
- The word schwul originally meant 'sultry' or 'hot and humid'.
- While schwul was once a derogatory term, it has been widely reclaimed by the LGBTQ+ community in Germany.
Examples in context
- Er hat keine homosexuellen Freunde.He doesn't have homosexual friends.This sentence shows the use of homosexuell to describe friends.Tatoeba #12443925 by Waldelfe, translation #8249370 by Amastan
- Unter Wildenten scheint es homosexuelle Nekrophile zu geben.Among wild ducks, it seems there are homosexual necrophiliacs.This sentence uses homosexuell in a biological context regarding ducks.Tatoeba #2317813 by Vortarulo, translation #373250 by kotobaboke
- Ich bin homosexuell.I'm a homosexual.This sentence demonstrates how to use homosexuell to state one's identity.Tatoeba #4776722 by Germic, translation #2786422 by _undertoad
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a character in a movie.
- MaximilianIst der Hauptcharakter eigentlich schwul?Is the main character actually gay?
- HannahJa, er ist schwul.Yes, he is gay.
- MaximilianDas erklärt seine Motivation in der Szene.That explains his motivation in the scene.
- HannahStimmt, das macht die Geschichte interessanter.True, that makes the story more interesting.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “homosexual” translations and entries schwul, homosexuell, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries homosexuell, schwul, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
