German · Romance & Rejection
fremdgehen
FREMT-gay-en · /ˈfʁɛmt.ɡeː.ən/
To cheat / to have an affair
2/5 Bar-safe
coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances
Literally
"To go foreign / go strange"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
Literally "to go with a stranger" — the everyday word for infidelity, matter-of-fact rather than vulgar but socially loaded. "Er ist fremdgegangen" ends friendships. Blunter slang: "Hörner aufsetzen" (to put horns on someone, i.e. cuckold them). Careful where you aim this; it's an accusation.
Heard in the wild
Sie hat rausgefunden, dass er fremdgeht.
She found out he's cheating.
Where it lands
Germany, Austria, Switzerland — universal
Quick answers
- What does "fremdgehen" mean?
- In German, "fremdgehen" means "To cheat / to have an affair". Literally it's "To go foreign / go strange". Literally "to go with a stranger" — the everyday word for infidelity, matter-of-fact rather than vulgar but socially loaded. "Er ist fremdgegangen" ends friendships. Blunter slang: "Hörner aufsetzen" (to put horns on someone, i.e. cuckold them). Careful where you aim this; it's an accusation.
- Is "fremdgehen" 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 "fremdgehen"?
- Say it "FREMT-gay-en" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ˈfʁɛmt.ɡeː.ən.
Related in German
einen Korb geben INE-en KORP GAY-ben To turn someone down / reject an advance jemanden abblitzen lassen YAY-mand-en AP-blit-sen LAH-sen To blow someone off / shoot them down cold Mach mich nicht an! MAKH mikh nikht AHN Don't hit on me! / Don't start with me! baggern BAH-gern To hit on someone / chat someone up (persistently) Hau ab! HOW AP Get lost! / Clear off! / Beat it! Drecksau DREK-zow Filthy pig / dirty swine
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