scheissen

Scheißen is a German verb meaning to defecate. It is informal and vulgar, and its use is generally avoided in formal writing or polite conversation. In everyday speech it is common among friends or in contexts that aim for a blunt or realistic tone.

The verb is used both literally and figuratively. In literal sense, it describes the act of defecation. In figurative or colloquial usage, it can express waste, failure, or frustration, often paired with emphasis or exaggeration. The related noun Scheiße refers to excrement and also serves as a strong interjection meaning “damn” or “crap.” The phrase Ich habe geschissen is the standard past tense form (present perfect) for the verb, while present-tense forms vary by person. The noun Scheiße is gendered as die Scheiße.

Common idioms and derivatives include Scheiße bauen (to mess things up), Scheiße finden (to consider something worthless or disgusting), and compound forms with Scheiß- as an intensifier, such as Scheißtag (a terrible day). The word also appears in popular culture, literature, and media to convey realism, humor, or confrontation, but it is considered inappropriate for formal, official, or professional contexts.

Etymology and related terms: scheißen belongs to the Germanic language family, with cognates in other West Germanic languages such as Dutch scheissen. The related noun Scheiße shares the same root and functions across both literal and figurative uses. In many German-speaking regions, variations and euphemisms (Kacke, Mist, Exkremente) are used in more polite speech, while Scheiße remains distinctly vulgar.