hussy / bait
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hussy
A derogatory, colloquial term for a woman who is seen as scheming, malicious, or morally loose.
Sie nannte ihre Rivalin hinter vorgehaltener Hand ein falsches Luder.
Behind closed doors, she called her rival a deceitful hussy.
Although 'Luder' often refers to a woman or a person, its grammatical gender is neuter: 'das Luder'. This is common with some colloquial terms for people in German.
Er nannte sie ein hinterhältiges Luder.
He called her a treacherous hussy.
This word has very different levels of style. It can be a strong insult, a technical term, or playful teasing. The correct interpretation depends extremely strongly on the context and tone of voice.
Pass auf, was du sagst, denn „Luder“ kann sehr verletzend sein.
Be careful what you say, because 'Luder' (hussy/little rascal) can be very hurtful.
The original meaning of 'Luder' is 'Köder' (bait). From this, the hunting meaning developed. The derogatory term for a person derives from the idea that someone 'anlockt' (lures) or seduces another person.
Die Geschichte des Wortes erklärt die Verbindung zwischen dem Köder und der durchtriebenen Person.
The history of the word explains the connection between the bait and the scheming person.
In the meaning 'Tierkadaver als Köder' (animal carcass as bait), 'Luder' is purely a technical term from hunting language. Outside the topic of hunting, you will not find the word used in this sense.
Der Jäger kontrollierte das Luder, das er für die Wildschweine ausgelegt hatte.
The hunter checked the bait carcass that he had laid out for the wild boars.
Whether the term is meant as an insult or as an affectionate joke depends on the tone of voice and the relationship between the speakers. Among friends or for a cheeky child, it can be harmless; toward strangers, it is a serious insult.
Na, du kleines Luder, hast du schon wieder heimlich genascht?
Well, you little rascal, have you been secretly snacking again?
witch
'die Hexe' and 'das Luder' can both be used derogatorily for a person, often for a woman. 'Hexe' more often refers to a woman perceived as evil, mean, or underhanded. 'Luder' can be very insulting and portray a woman as scheming or morally bad. In some situations, however, 'Luder' is also used jokingly for a cheeky child or animal. Learners may confuse the words because both can be insults. You need to pay special attention to tone and situation, because both words can quickly come across as hurtful.
Der kleine Hund hat den Schuh versteckt, dieses freche Luder.
The little dog hid the shoe, that cheeky little rascal.
Auf der Feier flüsterte jemand: „Diese Hexe hat wieder Ärger gemacht.“
At the party, someone whispered, “That witch has caused trouble again.”