Is "Scheibenwischer" offensive?

It's genuinely rude — a 3/5 (Watch your audience) on the Punch-o-Meter. Fine among friends, never at work or with people you've just met.

How do you pronounce "Scheibenwischer"?

This one's a hand gesture — there's nothing to pronounce. Hold a flat hand up in front of your face and wave it side to side like a windshield wiper..

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German · Hand Gestures (Mind the Law) · hand gesture

Scheibenwischer

You're completely nuts / your brain isn't working

3/5 Watch your audience

genuinely rude; friends only, never at work

The gesture

"Hold a flat hand up in front of your face and wave it side to side like a windshield wiper."

What your hand is actually doing.

How to use it

The upgrade to the Vogel tap — the "windshield-wiper" implies the wipers are going but nobody's home. Equally, and famously, an offence: German courts have fined drivers for the Scheibenwischer just as for the temple-tap. It's the single most litigated gesture on German roads. Recognise it aimed at you; keep your own hands on the wheel.

Heard in the wild

Der Autofahrer hat mir einen Scheibenwischer gemacht.

The driver gave me the windshield-wiper (called me an idiot).

Where it lands

Germany, Austria — legally actionable

Quick answers

What does "Scheibenwischer" mean?: In German, "Scheibenwischer" means "You're completely nuts / your brain isn't working". Literally it's "Hold a flat hand up in front of your face and wave it side to side like a windshield wiper.". The upgrade to the Vogel tap — the "windshield-wiper" implies the wipers are going but nobody's home. Equally, and famously, an offence: German courts have fined drivers for the Scheibenwischer just as for the temple-tap. It's the single most litigated gesture on German roads. Recognise it aimed at you; keep your own hands on the wheel.
Is "Scheibenwischer" offensive?: It's genuinely rude — a 3/5 (Watch your audience) on the Punch-o-Meter. Fine among friends, never at work or with people you've just met.
How do you pronounce "Scheibenwischer"?: This one's a hand gesture — there's nothing to pronounce. Hold a flat hand up in front of your face and wave it side to side like a windshield wiper..

Related in German

einen Vogel zeigen gesture You've got a screw loose / you're insane Stinkefinger gesture The finger — up yours die Zunge rausstrecken gesture Nyah-nyah — childish defiance / mockery Quatsch! KVATCH Nonsense! / Rubbish! / No way! Arsch ARSH Arse / ass — and the second great compound-engine of German Halt die Klappe! HALT dee KLAP-uh Shut your trap! / Shut up!

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "That's crazy".

how to say "That's crazy" →

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