die Kacke
shit
A vulgar term for feces, meaning the solid waste excreted by the intestines.
EXAMPLE
Pass auf, dass du nicht in die Kacke trittst!
Watch out, or you'll step in the shit!
die Kacke
shit
die Kacke
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
die Kacke
shit
A vulgar term for an unpleasant matter, an aggravating situation, or something awful that has happened.
EXAMPLE
Seit Wochen müssen wir uns mit dieser Kacke herumschlagen, weil die Heizung ständig ausfällt.
We've been dealing with this shit for weeks because the heating keeps breaking down.
die Kacke
crap / bullshit
A vulgar, disparaging term for nonsense or something considered worthless or very bad.
EXAMPLE
Was redest du denn für eine Kacke?
What's this crap you're talking?
die Kacke ist am Dampfen
the shit is hitting the fan
A vulgar expression meaning that there is serious trouble, a major conflict, or a severe crisis.
EXAMPLE
Seit der Chef von den gefälschten Rechnungen weiß, ist die Kacke am Dampfen.
Ever since the boss found out about the falsified invoices, the shit has hit the fan.
in der Kacke sitzen
to be in deep shit
A vulgar expression meaning to be in a very difficult or unpleasant situation.
EXAMPLE
Ohne Geld und ohne gültigen Pass saßen wir im Ausland ganz schön in der Kacke.
With no money and no valid passport, we were really in deep shit abroad.
auf die Kacke hauen
to show off / party hard
A vulgar expression meaning to act loudly and excessively, show off, or celebrate exuberantly.
EXAMPLE
Auf der Party hat er mit Geschichten über seine angeblichen Millionen mal wieder ordentlich auf die Kacke gehauen.
At the party, he was showing off again with stories about his supposed millions.
jemanden aus der Kacke ziehen
to get someone out of trouble
A vulgar expression meaning to help someone out of a difficult or unpleasant situation.
EXAMPLE
Mit ihrem Darlehen hat sie mich damals aus der Kacke gezogen.
Her loan got me out of trouble back then.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Kacke, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| genitive | der Kacke |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Kacke | – |
| accusative | die Kacke | – |
| dative | der Kacke | – |
| genitive | der Kacke | – |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Vulgar register
'Kacke' (shit) belongs to very colloquial and vulgar language and can sound crude or offensive. The word is therefore inappropriate in formal situations and factual texts.
EXAMPLE
Er fluchte laut: „Diese Kacke macht mich noch verrückt!“
He shouted angrily: 'This shit is driving me crazy!'
Typical collocation
For its literal meaning, 'Kacke' (shit) frequently occurs with verbs such as 'treten' (to step in), 'wegmachen' (to clean up), or 'einsammeln' (to collect). The expression 'in die Kacke treten' (to step in shit) is especially common.
EXAMPLE
Der Hund hat in den Garten gekackt, und jetzt muss jemand die Kacke wegmachen.
The dog pooped in the garden, and now someone has to clean up the shit.
Aggravating situation
In this figurative meaning, 'Kacke' (shit) often occurs in expressions such as 'die ganze Kacke' (all this shit) or 'sich mit der Kacke herumschlagen' (to deal with all this shit). It refers to a stressful matter rather than a concrete object.
EXAMPLE
Wegen der kaputten Software können wir die ganze Kacke jetzt noch einmal von vorn machen.
Because of the broken software, we now have to redo all this shit from the beginning.
Disparaging exclamation
As a term for nonsense or something very bad, 'Kacke' (shit) often appears in exclamations and questions. The expression can refer to statements, ideas, films, or other things.
EXAMPLE
Diese Kacke kann doch niemand ernst nehmen.
No one can take this shit seriously.
Fixed expression
In 'Die Kacke ist am Dampfen' (the shit is hitting the fan), 'Kacke' (shit) does not refer to a concrete object. The fixed expression is used when a situation suddenly becomes serious and major trouble is looming.
EXAMPLE
Als die Polizei vor der Tür stand, war die Kacke am Dampfen.
When the police showed up at the door, the shit hit the fan.
Dative after 'in'
The fixed expression is 'in der Kacke sitzen' (to be in deep shit); 'in' is followed by the dative here. A person or group can therefore be 'in der Kacke' (in deep shit) in a difficult situation.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem verlorenen Prozess saß die Firma tief in der Kacke.
After losing the lawsuit, the company was in deep shit.
Fixed expression
In 'auf die Kacke hauen' (to show off / party hard), 'auf' is used with the accusative and is an established part of the expression. Depending on the context, it refers to acting excessively, showing off, or celebrating exuberantly.
EXAMPLE
Bei seinem Geburtstag hat er bis zum frühen Morgen auf die Kacke gehauen.
At his birthday party, he partied hard until the early morning.
Fixed combination
The expression 'jemanden aus der Kacke ziehen' (to get someone out of trouble) is used with 'aus' and the dative. Figuratively, it describes helping another person out of a difficult situation.
EXAMPLE
Mein Anwalt hat mich in letzter Minute aus der Kacke gezogen.
My lawyer got me out of trouble at the last minute.
In real life
Loading video examples...