shitjes

Shitjes is a term encountered in Dutch-language slang and online discourse. It is typically used as a vulgar noun derived from the English word shit, formed with the diminutive suffix -je or -tje, which can convey familiarity, playfulness, or diminutive sense. The word may refer to feces in casual speech or function as an insult or humorous epithet when directed at people or situations.

Etymology and usage: The formation reflects common Dutch practice of adding diminutives to borrowed terms to modify tone. In informal contexts, shitjes can denote mess or fecal matter, or serve as a playful but offensive label for a person or group, often in the plural form to refer to multiple individuals or incidents.

In media and internet culture: Shitjes appears in memes, social media banter, and casual online communication as a punchline or reaction word. Because of its profane character, it is typically avoided in formal writing and professional settings, and its acceptability varies by audience and region. Some slang dictionaries and corpora note the term, but it remains informal and nonstandard outside casual speech.

See also: Dutch profanity, slang, diminutive forms in Dutch, language of online communities.