Schweinehund
The German phrase Schweinehund translates to "pig dog" in English.
This term refers to a person's inner tendency to be lazy or to avoid difficult tasks. It is most commonly used in the fixed idiom den inneren Schweinehund überwinden, which means to overcome one's lack of willpower or laziness.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of Schwein (pig) and Hund (dog).
Did you know?
- The concept of the innerer Schweinehund is so ingrained that it is often treated as a separate personality trait in German psychology discussions, similar to an 'alter ego' of laziness.
- In German, calling someone a Schwein or a Hund can be a harsh insult, but the innerer Schweinehund is often discussed with a sense of humor and shared human frailty.
- Unlike the English 'couch potato', which describes a person's state, Schweinehund is an active adversary that a person must 'overcome' (überwinden), turning laziness into a battle of wills.
Example conversation
Laura and Julian are talking about waking up early.
- LauraJulian, stehst du morgen früh auf?Julian, are you getting up early tomorrow?
- JulianIch versuche es, aber mein Schweinehund ist groß.I'll try, but my inner lazy self is strong.
- LauraDu schaffst das bestimmt!I'm sure you can do it!
- JulianHoffentlich gewinne ich gegen meinen Schweinehund.Hopefully I'll win against my inner lazy self.
