inner weakness / bastard
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inner weakness
Colloquial for one's own weakness of will, laziness, or lack of discipline that one has to overcome in order to complete an unpleasant task. Usually used in the expression 'den inneren Schweinehund überwinden' (to overcome one's inner weakness).
Ich musste meinen inneren Schweinehund überwinden, um bei dem Regen joggen zu gehen.
I had to overcome my inner weakness to go jogging in the rain.
The word is made up of 'das Schwein' (pig) and 'der Hund' (dog). This combination of two animal names creates a very strong, negative image and explains why the word either refers to a great weakness of will or strongly insults a person.
Er nannte seinen Gegner einen feigen Schweinehund.
He called his opponent a cowardly bastard.
The adjective 'innerer' (inner) is the decisive clue. 'Der innere Schweinehund' always refers to one's own weakness of will. Without 'innerer' and referring to a person, it is a strong insult.
Heute habe ich meinen inneren Schweinehund besiegt und war im Fitnessstudio.
Today I defeated my inner weakness and went to the gym.
In the meaning 'Willensschwäche' (weakness of will), the word is used almost exclusively in the fixed expression 'den inneren Schweinehund überwinden' (to overcome one's inner weakness), or 'besiegen' (to defeat). The verb describes the struggle against one's own laziness.
Um mit dem Rauchen aufzuhören, muss man seinen inneren Schweinehund überwinden.
To quit smoking, you have to overcome your inner weakness.
As a term for a person, 'Schweinehund' (bastard) is a very strong insult. It should only be used with great caution, as it is perceived as extremely hurtful.
„Du elender Schweinehund!“, schrie sie ihn an.
'You miserable bastard!' she screamed at him.
pig
'das Schwein' and 'der Schweinehund' can both be used as crude insults for a person. 'Schwein' is more general and can describe someone who behaves badly, meanly, or dirtily. 'Schweinehund' is also a strong insult, but it is also very often used in the fixed expression 'den inneren Schweinehund überwinden' (to overcome one's inner weakness). Then it does not mean a person, but one's own laziness or weakness of will. Learners may confuse the words because 'Schweinehund' contains the word 'Schwein'. The important point is: as an animal, it is called 'Schwein'; when talking about a lack of discipline, you say 'innerer Schweinehund'.
Nach der Arbeit musste ich meinen inneren Schweinehund überwinden und noch joggen gehen.
After work, I had to overcome my inner weakness and go jogging.
Nach seiner gemeinen Lüge nannten ihn einige ein Schwein.
After his mean lie, some people called him a pig.