01
der Lump
scoundrel
A derogatory, somewhat outdated term for a man who is characterless, dishonorable, or mean; a villain or rogue.
example
Er hat mich betrogen, dieser Lump!
He cheated me, that scoundrel!
der Lump
scoundrel / rag
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Meanings
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Usage tips
False friend
'Der Lump' means 'Schurke' (villain) or 'Halunke' (rogue). It should not be confused with the English word 'lump', which in German is 'der Klumpen' or 'die Beule'.
EXAMPLE
Dieser Lump hat mein ganzes Geld gestohlen!
That scoundrel stole all my money!
Register and style
As an insult, 'Lump' is outdated and is rarely used seriously today. It often sounds somewhat theatrical or like something from an old film.
EXAMPLE
„Verschwinde von meinem Grundstück, du Lump!“, rief der alte Mann.
'Get off my property, you scoundrel!' shouted the old man.
Use as a form of address
The word is often used as a direct form of address or as an exclamation to express outrage. Typical phrases are 'Du Lump!' (you scoundrel!) or 'So ein Lump!' (what a scoundrel!).
EXAMPLE
Er hat mich angelogen? So ein Lump!
He lied to me? What a scoundrel!
Outdated meaning
The meaning 'Stofffetzen' (scrap of fabric) or 'Lappen' (rag) is no longer used in standard German today. You find it almost only in old texts or regional dialects.
EXAMPLE
In dem alten Märchenbuch war von einem Mann in Lumpen die Rede.
In the old book of fairy tales, there was mention of a man in rags.
Compare with
Lump vs Lappen
rag / license / wimp
'Lappen' and 'Lump' sound very similar, but today they usually do not mean the same thing. In everyday language, 'Lappen' is mainly a piece of cloth used for wiping. Colloquially, it can also be a derogatory term for a weak or cowardly person. 'Lump' is a derogatory, rather old-fashioned term for a dishonest or mean man. In the past, or in some regions, 'Lump' could also mean a piece of cloth, but that is rare today. So the risk of confusion comes from the similar sound and from the derogatory meaning for people.
Lump
Im alten Film nennt der Bauer den Betrüger einen Lump.
In the old film, the farmer calls the swindler a scoundrel.
Lappen
Der Lappen liegt neben dem Waschbecken, falls jemand Wasser verschüttet.
The cloth is next to the sink in case someone spills water.
In real life
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