Damon Mcknight
Austrians are known for their polite society, but beneath this veneer of respectability lies a treasure trove of creative insults. From mild jabs like Huankind to more cutting phrases like Piefke, Austrians know how to express their displeasure colourfully. The Austrian sense of humour shines through in their insults, often invoking amusing mental images to poke fun at the recipient. So, whether you're dealing with a Dodl or simply want to tell someone to Leck mich im Arsch, knowing how to insult an Austrian can be an entertaining endeavour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Calling an Austrian a German | N/A |
| Calling an Austrian a "Huankind" | Translates to "son-of-a-bitch" |
| Calling a German a "Piefke" | N/A |
| Dodl | Translates to "fool" |
| Leck mich im Arsch | Translates to "kiss my ass" |
| Pudl di ned auf Hustinettenbär | Telling someone to stop taking themselves too seriously |
| Hau die über'd Heisa | Telling someone to leave |
| Schleich dich | Telling someone to sneak away |
| Geh scheißen | Translates to "go, have a shit" |
| Arschloch | Translates to "asshole" |
| Dir hams ins Hirn gschissn | Translates to "someone has taken a shit in your brain" |
| Du Nudelaug | Translates to "noodle-eye", refers to the hole in a penis |
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What You'll Learn
Calling an Austrian a German
During the mid-18th century, the common German identity of lands such as Carinthia, Styria, and Tyrol, as well as the ruling dynasty, facilitated the acceptance of a centralised government in Vienna. At this time, the term 'Austrian' was used to identify subjects of the House of Austria, regardless of their ethnic ancestry. However, these lands were not a formally united state, and the idea of grouping all Germans into one nation-state led to a rapid rise in German nationalism within the German Confederation, particularly in the two most powerful German states: Austria and Prussia.
The question of how a unified Germany was to be formed sparked debate. The "Greater German solution" proposed unifying all German-speaking peoples under one state, while the "Lesser German solution" advocated for the unification of only the northern German states, excluding Austria. Ultimately, the German Empire was formed without Austria, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire was established through the union of Austria and Hungary. This arrangement, known as the "Little Germany Solution," contributed to the development of an unambiguous Austrian identity separate from Germany.
Following World War II, Austria was considered a victim of Nazi Germany, which further emphasised the distinction between the two nationalities. Therefore, calling an Austrian a German can be considered offensive, as it denies the unique cultural, historical, and linguistic characteristics of Austria and its people.
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Common phrases used in anger
Austrians are known for their polite society, but they do have a catalogue of creative insults. Here are some common phrases used in anger:
"Pudl di ned auf Hustinettenbär" – This phrase is used to tell someone to stop taking themselves too seriously and that they are behaving like a clown. "Aufpudln" refers to dressing well and wearing your finest clothes. It's a comparison to poodles, who are often styled by their owners, and the "Hustinettenbär", an advertisement figure for cough medicine.
"Hau die über'd Heisa" or "Throw yourself over the houses" – This is a Viennese expression used to tell someone to leave immediately and that they are not welcome.
"Schleich dich" or "Sneak yourself" – This phrase implies that you do not want to interact with the person and do not want to hear anything they have to say.
"Huankind" – This phrase can be translated as "son-of-a-bitch" and is used to indicate an obstreperous frame of mind.
"Leck mich im Arsch" – This classic insult, loosely translated as "Kiss My Ass", has been used in both low and high society. It even inspired a Mozart composition, Köchel number K.231.
Additionally, telling an Austrian that they are German is considered offensive to some.
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Fecal language
Indeed, fecal language can be used as a powerful form of insult, as it taps into deep-seated cultural assumptions and stereotypes. For instance, calling someone "Huankind," which translates to "son-of-a-bitch," is a mild insult in Austria. Insults like these are often gendered, with women being the target of abusive language that chastises them for not adhering to traditional expectations of femininity. For example, "nasty woman" is considered more derogatory than "nasty man" because it not only implies meanness but also criticizes women for deviating from societal norms.
In Austria, despite their reputation for politeness, fecal language and insults are not uncommon. For instance, Austrians might call a German a "Piefke," or use the phrase "Leck mich im Arsch," which translates to "Kiss My Ass," as a versatile insult for any social class.
While fecal language can be impactful and carry a certain shock factor, it is important to recognize the potential harm caused by such abusive language. Insults, especially those laden with fecal references, can reflect and reinforce underlying social biases and stereotypes, perpetuating negative attitudes toward certain groups.
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Cute insults
Austrians are known for their polite society, but they do have a catalogue of colourful insults. Many Austrian insults are playful and not too serious, often invoking amusing mental images. Here are some examples of cute insults in Austrian culture:
"Wappler" is an Austrian insult that means "idiot". It sounds quite cute, despite its insulting nature. The term comes from the word "Wappen", meaning insignia, and was originally used to refer to government officials who wore insignia on the front of their hats.
Another playful insult is "Pudl di ned auf Hustinettenbär", which is a way of telling someone to stop taking themselves so seriously and that they are acting like a clown. It refers to poodles, who are often styled by their owners to look fancy, as well as an advertisement figure for cough medicine.
"Hau die über'd Heisa", which translates to "throw yourself over the houses", is a Viennese way of telling someone to leave immediately because they are not welcome. A similar phrase is "Schleich dich", which means "sneak yourself" and implies that you do not want to interact with the person anymore.
In addition, "Leck mich im Arsch", which loosely translates to "kiss my ass", is a classic Austrian insult used in both high and low society. It even inspired a Mozart composition.
Finally, a simple way to insult an Austrian is to refer to them as German. During the Austria-Hungary era, the term "Austrian" was not used; they were considered Germans in Austria.
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Insults used in high and low society
Insults are a curious aspect of language, often revealing dark things about society and its history. They can be classist, sexist, or reveal a whole history of class warfare. Insults can be used in both high and low society, and some are more creative, nuanced, descriptive, and amusing than others.
High society
High society is often associated with politeness and respectability, but that does not mean that insults are not used. In fact, some insults may be considered more sophisticated or witty in high society settings. For example, the word "prude" derives from the French "prudefemme", meaning a brave, virtuous, or proud woman. However, it has been twisted over time by men to imply that pride in women is a negative trait. This is an example of a classist insult that has become commonplace. Another example of an insult that was once used in high society is "cumberground", coined by the 15th-16th century poet and one of Henry VIII's schoolteachers, John Skelton. It means someone who is so useless, they just take up space.
Low society
Low society, or common discourse, often involves more direct and explicit insults. For instance, "Huankind", which translates to "son-of-a-bitch", is a mild insult that can be used in Austrian low society. Another example is the insult "Piefke", used by Austrians to refer to their Teutonic neighbours to the west, the Germans. "Dodl" is another Austrian insult, meaning "fool". "Leck mich im Arsch", which translates to "kiss my ass", is a wonderful all-purpose insult that can be used in both low and high society.
Some insults that were once considered lowbrow have now become extinct or endangered, such as "tubular" and "groovy" from the 1980s and 60s, respectively. However, some old-fashioned insults are making a comeback, such as those from the 19th century, which are considered colourful and entertaining. These include "mumblecrust", a toothless beggar, and "dalcop", a dull-headed person.
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Frequently asked questions
Some common Austrian insults include “Huankind”, which means “son-of-a-bitch”, “Pudl di ned auf Hustinettenbär”, which is used to tell someone to stop taking themselves too seriously, and “Arschloch”, which means "asshole".
“Dodl” means “fool” in Austrian and is a good option for a milder insult. Another option is “Wappler”, which means "idiot" and is described as sounding "insulting and cute at the same time".
Austrians are known to use creative mental images that compare people to stupid things when insulting them. For example, “Pudl di ned auf Hustinettenbär”, which refers to poodles that are styled by their owners and an advertisement figure for cough medicine.
You can say, “Hau die über'd Heisa”, which means “throw yourself over the houses” and is a way of telling someone to leave immediately because they are not welcome.
Austrians were considered Germans during the Austria-Hungary era, so calling an Austrian German may be considered offensive to some.
