01
fluchen
to swear
To use swear words or expletives to express anger, pain, or frustration.
example
Er fluchte laut, als er mit dem Hammer seinen Daumen traf.
He swore loudly when he hit his thumb with the hammer.
fluchen
to curse / swear
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'fluchen' (to curse/swear) is closely related to the noun 'der Fluch' (curse). While 'fluchen' describes the act of swearing, 'der Fluch' is a curse meant to bring misfortune to someone.
EXAMPLE
Auf dem alten Schloss soll ein schrecklicher Fluch liegen.
A terrible curse is said to lie on the old castle.
Use with and without an object
You can simply 'fluchen' (swear/curse) in general, without naming a target. But if you want to express what or whom you are angry about, you use the preposition 'auf' with the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Er fluchte leise, als er den Schlüssel nicht finden konnte.
He swore quietly when he could not find the key.
Typical adverbs
To describe the way someone is swearing, the verb is often combined with adverbs like 'laut' (loudly), 'leise' (quietly), 'wütend' (angrily), or 'vor sich hin' (to oneself).
EXAMPLE
Als er sich den Kopf stieß, fluchte er laut.
When he bumped his head, he swore loudly.
Compare with
fluchen vs beleidigen
to insult
'beleidigen' and 'fluchen' can both have to do with strong or unpleasant words. The most important difference is the target. Someone who 'beleidigt' someone hurts that person with words or disrespectful behavior. Someone who 'flucht' uses swear words or expletives, often because they are angry or in pain. No other person has to be directly meant. Learners may confuse the words because swearing can sometimes also be insulting. But you can 'fluchen' without insulting anyone, for example when you stub your foot.
fluchen
Als der Computer wieder abstürzte, begann Mehmet leise zu fluchen.
When the computer crashed again, Mehmet began to swear quietly.
beleidigen
Im Streit hat Max seinen Bruder beleidigt und sich später entschuldigt.
During the argument, Max insulted his brother and apologized later.
In real life
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