hump / back
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hump
A visible, often rounded bulge on a person's back caused by a curvature of the spine.
Vom vielen schweren Tragen hat er schon früh einen Buckel bekommen.
From carrying so many heavy things, he developed a hump early on.
The word 'Buckel' can refer to a person's back, an animal's hump, or a small hill. The context makes the meaning clear.
Das Kamel speichert Fett in seinem Buckel.
The camel stores fat in its hump.
Colloquially, 'der Buckel' is often used as a synonym for 'der Rücken' (the back), usually in fixed expressions that convey effort or strain.
Für den Umzug meiner Schwester habe ich mir den ganzen Tag den Buckel krumm gemacht.
I broke my back all day helping my sister move.
The idiom 'jemandem den Buckel runterrutschen können' is a crude way of saying that someone does not care about something at all. The person who does not care is in the dative case.
Seine Kritik kann mir den Buckel runterrutschen.
I couldn't care less about his criticism.
When talking about a physical deformation of the back, the typical verbs are 'einen Buckel haben' (to have a hump) or 'einen Buckel bekommen' (to develop a hump).
Der alte Mann hat vom vielen Bücken einen Buckel.
The old man has a hump from bending over so much.
The use of 'Buckel' for 'Rücken' (back), as well as the idiom 'den Buckel runterrutschen' (to not care at all), belongs to informal colloquial language. You should use them only in casual conversations.
Hör auf zu jammern, das interessiert mich nicht. Rutsch mir den Buckel runter!
Stop whining, I don't care. You can get lost!
back
'Rücken' and 'Buckel' can both have to do with the back side of the body. 'Rücken' is the normal, neutral word for the body part between the neck and the buttocks. It is also used for the back side of things, for example a chair or a book. 'Buckel' often means a visible hump on the back, or colloquially the back, especially when talking about loads, effort, or work. With animals such as camels, the 'Buckel' is the raised part on the back. Learners may confuse the words because 'Buckel' is sometimes used like 'Rücken'. In neutral situations, especially at the doctor's or in everyday life, however, people almost always say 'Rücken'. 'Buckel' sounds more specific or more colloquial.
Das Kamel trägt Wasser und Fett in seinem Buckel.
The camel carries water and fat in its hump.
Nach dem langen Sitzen tut mir der Rücken weh.
After sitting for so long, my back hurts.