Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Heuchelei | /hɔɪ̯.çəˈlaɪ̯/ | feminine |
| Scheinheiligkeit | feminine | |
| Hypokrisie | feminine | |
| Tartüfferie | dated, feminine |
All these terms describe the pretense or false representation of holding beliefs, feelings or virtues that a person does not actually possess. If you wish to describe the action of acting or speaking hypocritically, you can use the verb heucheln.
Which one should you use?
Heuchelei is the general term for hypocrisy. Scheinheiligkeit is more specific, emphasizing the projection of an image of holiness or righteousness that contradicts one's true actions, often translated as sanctimoniousness or false piety. Hypokrisie is a more formal, academic or technical term used in philosophical or psychological contexts. Tartüfferie is a literary term inspired by the character Tartuffe from Molière's play.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Heuchelei is a common formal term. Scheinheiligkeit and Hypokrisie are also formal. Tartüfferie is considered a dated and literary term.
How does it change in a sentence?
All the noun forms provided are feminine nouns. The verb heucheln is the verbal form of Heuchelei.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of Heuchelei is /hɔɪ̯.çəˈlaɪ̯/. It has three syllables and the stress is on the third syllable.
When do people say it?
To describe someone who advocates certain ideas but behaves in a contradictory manner, Germans use the idiom Das ist Wasser predigen und Wein trinken (literally: preaching water and drinking wine).
Did you know?
- The verb heucheln can also mean to fake or simulate a feeling, such as Schmerz heucheln to 'fake pain', regardless of whether the person is acting hypocritically.
- The suffix '-ei' in Heuchelei is often used in German to turn a verb into a noun that implies a repetitive, often negative or trivial action.
- The German idiom Wasser predigen und Wein trinken creates a sharp sensory contrast between the purity of 'water' and the indulgence of 'wine' to illustrate hypocrisy.
Examples in context
- Ich sehe viel Heuchelei.I see a lot of hypocrisy.This sentence shows how to use Heuchelei to express seeing hypocrisy.Tatoeba #2748473 by Zaghawa, translation #2051497 by AlanF_US
- Die Politik ist eine Heuchelei.Politics is hypocrisy.This sentence uses Heuchelei to describe the nature of politics.Tatoeba #5001835 by al_ex_an_der, translation #5002016 by Zurich899
- Ich kann ihre Heuchelei nicht leiden.I can't stand her hypocrisy.This sentence uses Heuchelei to express an inability to tolerate someone's hypocrisy.Tatoeba #13097204 by Waldelfe, translation #6095113 by mailohilohi
- Seine Heuchelei ist offensichtlich. Er lobt ständig andere, aber tut nichts Gutes selbst.His hypocrisy is obvious. He constantly praises others but does no good himself.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Lukas are discussing a colleague's behavior.
- LauraHast du gesehen, wie er alle kritisiert?Did you see how he criticizes everyone?
- LukasJa, aber er macht dieselben Fehler selbst.Yes, but he makes the same mistakes himself.
- LauraDiese Heuchelei ist einfach unglaublich.This hypocrisy is simply unbelievable.
- LukasIch stimme dir vollkommen zu, Laura.I completely agree with you, Laura.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hypocrisy” translations and entries Heuchelei, Scheinheiligkeit, Tartüfferie, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
