German · 4 phrases

Words You'll Hear But Must Never Say

Comprehension only. Slurs and taboo you will encounter — and must never use — plus the one that isn't a curse at all but a crime: the Nazi salute, punishable in Germany by up to three years in prison. We list these so you understand the ugliness in the air, never so you add to it.

Fotze FOT-suh The nuclear misogynist insult — 'cunt' Kanake kah-NAH-kuh An ethnic slur aimed mainly at people of Turkish, Arab or Southern-European descent Schwuchtel SHVOOKH-tel A homophobic slur — the equivalent of 'faggot' Zigeuner tsee-GOY-ner A slur for Roma/Sinti — now widely rejected