der Buckel
hump
A visible, often rounded bulge on a person's back caused by a curvature of the spine.
EXAMPLE
Vom vielen schweren Tragen hat er schon früh einen Buckel bekommen.
From carrying so many heavy things, he developed a hump early on.
der Buckel
hump / back
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Meanings
der Buckel
back
Colloquial term for the back, especially in connection with effort, work, or loads.
EXAMPLE
Ich hab mir den ganzen Tag für dich den Buckel krumm gemacht!
I've been breaking my back for you all day!
der Buckel
hump
The natural, fleshy raised part on the back of certain animals, for example camels or bison.
EXAMPLE
Entgegen dem Volksglauben speichert ein Kamel in seinem Buckel Fett, nicht Wasser.
Contrary to popular belief, a camel stores fat in its hump, not water.
der Buckel
small hill
A small, gentle rise in the landscape; a small hill.
EXAMPLE
Wir machten auf einem kleinen Buckel Rast, um die Aussicht zu genießen.
We rested on a small hill to enjoy the view.
jemandem den Buckel runterrutschen können
to not care at all
A crude colloquial idiom expressing that a person or thing is completely unimportant to someone.
EXAMPLE
Seine Meinung kann mir den Buckel runterrutschen, ich mache es trotzdem.
I couldn't care less about his opinion; I'm doing it anyway.
Usage tips
Human, animal, or landscape?
The word 'Buckel' can refer to a person's back, an animal's hump, or a small hill. The context makes the meaning clear.
EXAMPLE
Das Kamel speichert Fett in seinem Buckel.
The camel stores fat in its hump.
Colloquial: the back
Colloquially, 'der Buckel' is often used as a synonym for 'der Rücken' (the back), usually in fixed expressions that convey effort or strain.
EXAMPLE
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.
Fixed expression
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.
EXAMPLE
Seine Kritik kann mir den Buckel runterrutschen.
I couldn't care less about his criticism.
Typical verbs
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).
EXAMPLE
Der alte Mann hat vom vielen Bücken einen Buckel.
The old man has a hump from bending over so much.
Register: colloquial language
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.
EXAMPLE
Hör auf zu jammern, das interessiert mich nicht. Rutsch mir den Buckel runter!
Stop whining, I don't care. You can get lost!
Compare with
Buckel vs Rücken
back
Rücken is the neutral term for the back part of the body. Buckel can also mean “back” in colloquial and somewhat rough language, especially in connection with work, exertion, or heavy loads. Rücken is therefore the better choice in neutral statements, while Buckel can be used for particularly strenuous work.
Buckel
Beim Umzug habe ich den ganzen Tag schwere Kisten auf dem Buckel getragen.
While moving, I carried heavy boxes on my back all day.
Rücken
Nach dem Umzug tut mir der Rücken weh.
After moving, my back hurts.
In real life
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