gescheißen

Gescheißen is the past participle form encountered in German for the verb scheißen, meaning to defecate. The term is highly vulgar and reserved for informal speech, humor, or stylistic depiction in literature. In standard formal writing, the event is usually expressed with a more neutral verb and, depending on the dialect, with a different participle form.

Etymology and form: Scheißen belongs to the core German vocabulary with roots in Old High German scīzan. Like other verbs, it forms a past participle with the ge- prefix. In everyday speech, most speakers use the form associated with geschissen, but gescheißen also appears in some dialects or in humorous or emphatic contexts as an alternative participle. The choice between gescheißen and geschissen reflects regional pronunciation, tradition, and register rather than a strict standard.

Usage and register: Gescheißen signals strong crude language. It is understood across German-speaking areas but should be avoided in formal, scholarly, or professional writing. It may occur in dialogue, spoken reminiscences, or works aiming to convey gritty realism or humor. In many contexts, speakers prefer geschissen as the more widely recognized participle, with gescheißen appearing as a stylistic variant.

Regional and historical notes: Dialectal variation has led to different participle realizations. While gescheißen can be found in some regional speech or earlier/folk usage, the more common standard participle in contemporary German is often geschissen. The exact form can thus indicate speaker age, region, or the intended tone of the text.

See also: Scheißen, German profanity, Verbal aspect in German slang.