arsch

Arsch is a German noun that refers to the buttocks or the posterior. In everyday speech it is widely used but regarded as vulgar or coarse. More neutral or formal terms for the same body part are Gesäß or Po; in medical or formal writing, Gesäßmol? No—just Gesäß. The choice of term often signals register and social context.

Etymology and usage context: The word has Germanic roots and is considered a strong colloquial or vulgar term. Its exact historical origin is not clearly defined in concise summaries, but it has long been part of Germanic language development. Because of its informal and crude connotation, Arsch is typically avoided in formal speech, media aimed at a broad audience, or polite conversation, where terms like Gesäß or Po are preferred. In some German-speaking regions and communities, Arsch remains a common insult or emphatic expression.

Idiomatic and figurative use: Arsch appears in various idioms and expressions, often with a humorous or aggressive edge. It can function insultingly toward a person (for example, in phrases addressing someone as an Arsch) or be used in expressions about effort or stubbornness, such as needing to “den Arsch bewegen” (to make a real effort), though such usages are informal and sometimes regionally marked. Compound formations like Arschloch (literally “asshole”) exist and are among the strongest vulgar terms in contemporary German.

See also: Gesäß, Po, Hinterteil. ARSCH is recognized as a coarse term, primarily in conversational, humorous, or emphatic contexts.