German · At the Bar
besoffen
buh-ZOFF-en · /bəˈzɔ.fn̩/
Sloshed / plastered / hammered
2/5 Bar-safe
coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances
Literally
"Boozed-up (past participle of saufen, to guzzle)"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
Properly drunk, not merely "angetrunken" (tipsy). From "saufen," which is what animals do at a trough — so it's earthier than the polite "betrunken." "Sturzbesoffen" (fall-down drunk) and "blau" are neighbours. Coarse but affectionate; you can say it about yourself with a grin.
Heard in the wild
Gestern war ich total besoffen.
I was totally plastered yesterday.
Where it lands
Germany, Austria — universal
Quick answers
- What does "besoffen" mean?
- In German, "besoffen" means "Sloshed / plastered / hammered". Literally it's "Boozed-up (past participle of saufen, to guzzle)". Properly drunk, not merely "angetrunken" (tipsy). From "saufen," which is what animals do at a trough — so it's earthier than the polite "betrunken." "Sturzbesoffen" (fall-down drunk) and "blau" are neighbours. Coarse but affectionate; you can say it about yourself with a grin.
- Is "besoffen" offensive?
- It's on the mild end — 2/5 (Bar-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances.
- How do you pronounce "besoffen"?
- Say it "buh-ZOFF-en" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: bəˈzɔ.fn̩.
Related in German
Prost! PROHST Cheers! Auf ex! OWF EX Down it in one! / Bottoms up! einen Kater haben INE-en KAH-ter HAH-ben To have a hangover voll wie eine Haubitze FOLL vee INE-uh how-BIT-suh Drunk as a lord / completely wasted blau sein BLOW zine To be drunk / sloshed Mist! MIST Crap! / Rats! — the family-friendly 'damn'
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