du stinkst nach Eselsscheiße
The phrase "you smell like donkey poop" in German is du stinkst nach Eselsscheiße.
This is an insulting statement used to tell someone that they have a very bad smell.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase du stinkst nach Eselsscheiße is highly informal and insulting, making it suitable only for very casual or aggressive contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the verb stinken (to stink) is conjugated for the second person singular du as stinkst. To indicate the scent one smells like, the verb is paired with the preposition nach.
Did you know?
- In Germany, calling someone a 'donkey' Esel is a common way to call them stubborn or foolish, not just a comment on their scent.
- The preposition nach in this phrase is a linguistic relative of the English word 'nigh', as both words originally described physical proximity or nearness.
- German allows for the creation of highly specific insults by fusing the names of animals with words for waste to form compound nouns like Eselsscheiße.
Examples in context
- Warum sagst du das? Du stinkst nach Eselsscheiße!Why do you say that? You smell like donkey poop!
- Geh weg, du stinkst nach Eselsscheiße.Go away, you smell like donkey poop.
Example conversation
Two siblings are arguing in the hallway.
- SarahMax, geh weg, du stinkst nach Eselsscheiße!Max, go away, you smell like donkey poop!
- MaximilianDas ist nicht wahr, Sarah!That is not true, Sarah!
- SarahDoch, du stinkst nach Eselsscheiße!Yes, you smell like donkey poop!
- MaximilianDu bist einfach nur gemein.You are just being mean.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries du, nach, CC BY-SA 4.0.
