01
die Sau
sow
A female domestic pig, especially one that has already given birth to piglets.
example
Auf dem Bauernhof hat die Sau letzte Woche zehn Ferkel bekommen.
On the farm, the sow had ten piglets last week.
die Sau
sow / pig
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Register: usually crude
Apart from the meanings as an animal and as a playing card, 'Sau' (sow/pig) is used in most expressions as crude colloquial language. You should use the word only in very informal situations and with caution.
EXAMPLE
Sein Verhalten war wirklich unter aller Sau.
His behavior was really absolutely awful.
As an intensifier
The prefix 'sau-' is used colloquially to intensify adjectives or adverbs, similar to 'very'. It is considered crude and very informal.
EXAMPLE
Zieh dich warm an, draußen ist es saukalt.
Dress warmly; it's damn cold outside.
Fixed expression: nobody
The expression 'keine Sau' (not a soul / nobody) is a very colloquial and crude way to say 'niemand' (nobody). It is often used to express annoyance or frustration.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe stundenlang aufgeräumt, aber keine Sau hat es bemerkt.
I cleaned up for hours, but not a soul noticed.
Fixed expression: very bad
The expression 'unter aller Sau' (absolutely awful / below all standards) means that something or someone is of extremely poor quality or unacceptable. The phrase is very colloquial.
EXAMPLE
Der Service in diesem Hotel war unter aller Sau.
The service in this hotel was absolutely awful.
Fixed expression: partying
When someone 'die Sau rauslässt' (lets loose), that person celebrates very wildly and without restraint. This expression is informal and is often used in connection with parties.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Arbeit lassen wir heute Abend mal richtig die Sau raus!
After work tonight, we're really going to let loose!
Context clue: card game
In certain German card games such as Skat or Schafkopf, 'die Sau' is the colloquial name for the highest card, the ace. Outside this context, this meaning is not understood.
EXAMPLE
Mit der Gras-Sau hat er den letzten Stich gemacht.
With the ace of leaves, he took the last trick.
Compare with
Sau vs Schwein
pig
'die Sau' and 'das Schwein' can both refer to an animal, and both can also be used insultingly for a person. 'Das Schwein' is the general word for the animal and also for the meat. 'Die Sau' is more specific: it means a female pig, especially a mother animal. As an insult, 'Sau' is very crude and coarse, while 'Schwein' is also insulting but somewhat more general. Learners may confuse the words because in everyday language they are both connected with the same animal. For the animal in general, 'Schwein' is usually the safe choice.
Sau
Auf dem Bauernhof liegt die Sau mit ihren Ferkeln im Stroh.
On the farm, the sow is lying in the straw with her piglets.
Schwein
Das Kind füttert das Schwein mit Kartoffeln.
The child feeds the pig potatoes.
In real life
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