das  Schwein

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ʃvaɪn/

🐷 What does "das Schwein" mean?

The German word das Schwein has several meanings:

• 🐖 Animal: The most common meaning is the domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) or wild boar (Sus scrofa). It's a mammal.
• 🍖 Meat: It can also refer to the meat of the pig (pork). Example: "Ich esse gern Schwein." (I like eating pork.)
• 🍀 Symbol of Luck: A small pig figure (often made of marzipan) is considered a good luck charm (Glücksbringer), especially for New Year's Eve. It's called a "Glücksschwein".
• 😠 Insult/Swear Word: It's often used as a rude insult for a person perceived as dirty, indecent, or mean. Example: "Du Schwein!" (You pig!)
• ✨ Luck/Fortune: In the expression "Schwein haben", it means to have had unexpected good luck. Example: "Da hast du aber Schwein gehabt!" (You really got lucky there!)

🚨 Attention: Using it as an insult is very negative and should be avoided unless you are very sure about the context and your relationship with the other person.

🧐 Grammar of "das Schwein" in Detail

The noun "Schwein" is neuter, and its article is das. Here are the declension tables:

💡 Example Sentences

1. Das kleine Schwein spielt im Matsch. (The little pig plays in the mud.)
2. Zum Mittagessen gibt es heute gebratenes Schwein. (Today, there's roasted pork for lunch.)
3. Er schenkte ihr ein Marzipan-Schwein als Glücksbringer. (He gave her a marzipan pig as a good luck charm.)
4. Er nannte ihn ein Schwein, weil er ihn betrogen hatte. (He called him a pig because he had cheated him.)
5. Ich habe die Prüfung nur knapp bestanden, da habe ich echt Schwein gehabt! (I barely passed the exam, I was really lucky!)

🤔 How to use "das Schwein"?

The usage of "das Schwein" heavily depends on the context:

• In biological/agricultural context: Clearly refers to the animal. "Der Bauer hält viele Schweine." (The farmer keeps many pigs.)
• When talking about food: Refers to pork. "Ist in der Wurst Schwein drin?" (Is there pork in the sausage?)
• As a luck symbol: Often used in the diminutive form "Schweinchen" or in fixed phrases like "Glücksschwein". "Zu Silvester verschenkt man Glücksschweinchen." (People give lucky pig charms for New Year's.)
• As an insult: Is very direct and offensive. Used to express disgust, moral reprehensibility, or uncleanliness. Be careful when using it! "Er benimmt sich wie ein Schwein." (He behaves like a pig.)
• Idiomatically ("Schwein haben"): A very common idiom meaning to have had unexpected good luck. It's informal. "Puh, Schwein gehabt, der Zug hatte Verspätung!" (Phew, got lucky, the train was delayed!)

Comparison: While "die Sau" specifically refers to the female animal (sow), "das Schwein" can refer to male, female, or animals of unspecified gender. "Sau" is also used as an insult, often considered even cruder than "Schwein".

🧠 Memory Aids for "das Schwein"

For the article: Think of das Ferkelchen (piglet - diminutives are neuter) or das Glücksschwein (lucky pig) – luck (das Glück) is neutral, so it's das Schwein.

For the meanings: A Schwein (animal 🐖) can end up on your plate (meat 🍖), bring good fortune (luck 🍀), or describe someone behaving badly (mess/insult 😠). And sometimes, you just "have pig" – "Schwein gehabt" (got lucky ✨)!

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms for "das Schwein"

⚠️ Similar words: Don't confuse with "Schweinehund" (inner temptation/laziness one must overcome) or the verb "schweinigeln" (to behave indecently).

😄 A Little Joke

Treffen sich zwei Schweine. Sagt das eine: "Na, wie geht's?" Antwortet das andere: "Sau gut!"

(Two pigs meet. One says: "Well, how's it going?" The other replies: "Sau gut!" - This is a pun. "Sau gut" literally means "sow good" but idiomatically means "damn good" or "really good".)

📜 Poem about "das Schwein"

Im Matsch, da wälzt sich froh das Schwein,
es grunzt und fühlt sich pudelwohl und fein.
Mal bringt es Glück, klein, rosa, süß,
mal ist's ein Schimpfwort, ganz schön fies.
Doch hat man Dusel, ruft man schnell:
"Da hatt' ich wieder Schwein, zur Stell'!"

(In mud, the pig rolls happily,
It oinks and feels perfectly content and dandy.
Sometimes it brings luck, small, pink, sweet,
Sometimes it's an insult, quite mean indeed.
But if you have a stroke of luck, you quickly exclaim:
"I got lucky again, right on cue!")

🧩 Riddle

Ich wühle gern in Dreck und Schlamm,
mein Fleisch, das isst man gerne dann.
Zu Neujahr bring ich Glück ins Haus,
doch nennt man dich so, ist's ein Graus.

Was bin ich?

(I like rooting in dirt and mud,
my meat is often enjoyed then.
At New Year's, I bring luck to the house,
but if you're called this, it's dreadful.

What am I?)

Solution: das Schwein (the pig)

💡 Other Information & Trivia

• Word Composition: The word can be part of many compound words, e.g., Schweinebraten (roast pork), Schweinestall (pigsty), Wildschwein (wild boar), Meerschweinchen (guinea pig - although it's a rodent!), Glücksschwein (lucky pig).
• Cultural Significance: In many cultures, the pig is a symbol of luck and prosperity (e.g., the Sparschwein - piggy bank). In others, e.g., Judaism and Islam, it is considered unclean.
• Idioms: Besides "Schwein haben" (to be lucky), there's also "Perlen vor die Säue werfen" (to cast pearls before swine - to waste something valuable on someone who won't appreciate it) or "unter aller Sau" (beneath contempt, very bad).