straight
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straight
Short form of 'heterosexuell' (heterosexual). Describes a person who is sexually or romantically attracted to people of the other sex.
Auf die Frage nach seiner Orientierung antwortete er, dass er hetero sei.
When asked about his orientation, he answered that he was straight.
'Hetero' (straight) is the colloquial short form of 'heterosexuell' (heterosexual). The word element 'hetero-' comes from Greek and means 'other' or 'different'.
Er ist hetero und hat eine Freundin.
He is straight and has a girlfriend.
The word 'hetero' (straight) is mainly used in colloquial language. In formal or academic texts, the full form 'heterosexuell' (heterosexual) is used.
In der Studie wurde die sexuelle Orientierung der Teilnehmenden erfragt.
In the study, the participants' sexual orientation was asked about.
'Hetero' (straight) is almost always used predicatively, that is, after a verb like 'sein' (to be). Using it directly before a noun, e.g. 'ein hetero Mann' (a straight man), is rare and often sounds unnatural.
Sie hat mir erzählt, dass sie hetero ist.
She told me that she is straight.
gay
'schwul' and 'hetero' both describe sexual or romantic orientation, but they are opposites. 'schwul' means, for a man, that he loves men or is attracted to men. 'hetero' is the short form of 'heterosexuell' and means that a person is attracted to the other sex. The words can be confused because both often come up in conversations about relationships and identity. The important point is: 'schwul' belongs to same-sex orientation in men, while 'hetero' belongs to orientation toward the other sex.
Meine Schwester ist hetero und seit zwei Jahren mit ihrem Freund zusammen.
My sister is straight and has been with her boyfriend for two years.
Beim Abendessen erzählt Paul seiner Familie, dass er schwul ist.
At dinner, Paul tells his family that he is gay.