Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Schwein | /ʃvaɪ̯n/ /ʃvaɛ̯n/ |
neuter |
| Facken | ||
| Hausschwein | /ˈhaʊ̯sʃvaɪ̯n/ | neuter |
| Sau | /zaʊ̯/ /saʊ̯/ |
archaic, dialectal, feminine |
| Sou | Alemannic German, feminine | |
| Mocke | Franconian, feminine | |
| Wutz | /vʊt͡s/ | feminine |
The term refers to the mammal of the family Suidae. Beyond the animal itself, calling someone a Schwein is a common insult used to describe someone who is behaving badly, greedily or dishonestly.
Which one should you use?
Schwein is the standard neuter form. Hausschwein specifically refers to the domestic pig. In various dialects and historical contexts, other forms like Sau, Sou, Mocke and Wutz are used to refer to the animal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Sou is used in Alemannic-German dialects. Mocke is a feminine form used in Franconian dialects. The term Sau is also noted as a dialectal and archaic feminine form.
How does it change in a sentence?
Schwein is a neuter noun. Its plural form is Schweine.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃvaɪ̯n/
When do people say it?
The German idiom Schwein haben literally translates to 'to have pig', but it actually means to be lucky or to have had a stroke of luck.
Did you know?
- In Germany, it is a common tradition to give a small lucky charm in the shape of a Schwein on New Year's Eve.
- The word Sau is frequently used in German compound words to describe something extreme, such as saukalt for 'extremely cold'.
- The word Schwein is a direct cognate of the English word 'swine'. Both descend from the same Proto-West Germanic root.
Examples in context
- Er hat ein Schwein.He has a pig.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of Schwein to denote possession.Tatoeba #12492110 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #12492093 by Tom9358
- Bist du ein Schwein?Are you a pig?This sentence shows how Schwein can be used in a direct question.Tatoeba #8855379 by Yorwba, translation #8246482 by francaisr0wlet
- Das Schwein wird fett.The pig is growing fat.This sentence demonstrates the use of Schwein when describing the animal's growth.Tatoeba #1393453 by Manfredo, translation #280736 by CK
- Guten Morgen! Hast du gestern gesehen, wie süß die kleinen Ferkel waren?Good morning! Did you see how cute the little piglets were yesterday?
- Ich habe gestern ein niedliches Schweinchen als Haustier bekommen.I got an adorable little piggy as a pet yesterday.
- Wow, das Zimmer sieht aus wie eine Sau!Wow, this room looks like a pigsty!
- 39 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a small local farm.
- SarahSiehst du das kleine Schwein dort?Do you see the little pig there?
- JulianJa, das Schwein ist sehr süß.Yes, the pig is very cute.
- SarahJulian, das Schwein frisst viel Mais.Julian, the pig eats a lot of corn.
- JulianEs ist ein gesundes Schwein.It is a healthy pig.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pig” translations and entries Schwein, Hausschwein, Sau, Wutz, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Hausschwein, Sau, Schwein, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
