16

I wrote a cat book in English and am translating it into German right now (native German) but I can’t find a real good word for poop.

Improve this question
6
  • 5
    Can you post the sentence you want to translate? Some context is necessary when translating beyond mere definition.
    – Estharon
    Commented Aug 22, 2016 at 12:04
  • 4
    Wenn du Muttersprachlerin bist, kannst du Fragen übrigens auch auf Deutsch stellen ;)
    – Jan
    Commented Aug 22, 2016 at 12:13
  • 1
    Wenn er muttersprachlic waere, wuerde nicht das Wort schon kennen?
    – Mawg
    Commented Aug 22, 2016 at 14:46
  • 1
    @Mawg Ich wundere mich auch etwas, aber Christine sagt, sie sei "native German". I thought that meant "native speaker" and/or "mother tongue". Maybe we were wrong.
    – PerlDuck
    Commented Aug 22, 2016 at 14:51
  • 6
    @Mawg Ach, ich hab öfters Wortfindungsstörungen … meistens geh ich dann ein englisches Wort suchen, gib das bei Leo ein und finde, was ich brauche. Oder ich frag das nächstbeste Opfer, das mir über den Weg läuft ;)
    – Jan
    Commented Aug 22, 2016 at 15:08

7 Answers 7

Reset to default
25

Häufchen, literally "little heap", it is what cat droppings are often referred to.

It is a naturally harmless and polite expression, so there's no danger of being rude. However, it is not very funny either.

P.S. "Häufchen" is usually not used to express dissatisfaction in the way "poop" often is. I guess it would be understood if someone did, and it would be kind of funny too.

Examples for proper usage have been posted as comment. I'm not putting them in my answer in order to avoid stealing the comment's votes. Thanks for the support, Phil.

Improve this answer
1
  • 7
    Usage of the expression would normally be something along the lines of: "ein Häufchen machen" or "jemandem ein Häufchen hinterlassen"
    – Phillip -Zyan K Lee- Stockmann
    Commented Aug 22, 2016 at 12:30
3

The only word that comes to my mind is "Kacka" (the 'a' at the end is important!). This is german baby talk and therefore sounds somehow funny. You can even find it on www.duden.de, marked as children language.

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    Unless it's a children's book, this sounds extremely cringeworthy.
    – infinitezero
    Commented Jun 13, 2019 at 16:08
3

We sometimes use "Katzenküttel" or simply "Küttel". Depending on the dialect, it may be "Ködel" or "Köttel" as well.

"Küttel" as opposed to "Häufchen" signifies a dry small piece of excrement, and not a wet lump of poo.

Improve this answer
1
  • 2
    Wurst is another form of poo – longish and solid, sausage-like, as is typical for cats. I’d use Köttel only for plentiful small droppings like the ones of rabbits, goats, mice or perhaps horses.
    – Crissov
    Commented Aug 23, 2016 at 19:05
2

Why not try something that is slightly humorous, but not a translation?

E.g.

The cat had left me a little present. — Die Katze hatte mir ein kleines Geschenklein hinterlassen.

Improve this answer
1
  • 2
    My first thought we be a dead bird or mouse.
    – infinitezero
    Commented Jun 13, 2019 at 16:08
0

Have you thought about the words: Kot / Exkrement / Ausscheidung(en)

Or which are rather funny: Köttel / Kacki (everything sounds cute / funny if you put an "i" behind it) / Brocken / Haufen (often used by some of my Friends "Ich hab einen riesen Brocken/Haufen gelegt").

Improve this answer
1
  • 3
    "riesen" ist übrigens kein Adjektiv, und ein "i" macht übrigens nichts niedlich/lustig per se.
    – Em1
    Commented Aug 22, 2016 at 12:54
0

Growing up in a German-speaking family, I've encountered various terms that at least by ear sound related to "poop":

  • "Puh, das stinkt hier!"
  • Puh-puh machen (small child talk for going to the toilet for "number 2")
  • ... and then you get Pupsen, Pupse, Pupser which is related to farting. (The dictionary suggests to this non-expert that the original meaning of poop, silently breaking wind, was carried over (perhaps as euphemism) for passing wind (farting) and then to the passing of excreta. So perhaps wind-related terms would not be what you are looking for, or perhaps you could make it work.)
  • So perhaps something made-up like "pupu/puhpuh" would work for you. (It's unfortunate that in other languages words like Pupu Kaka make quite normal and honorable names.)

As a expat German in another culture, it's hard for me to tell how widespread these would be understood.

Relating to pets, we would usually use the words "Mist", "Kot" or "Dreck". Fairly factual, with the connotation of "dirty, stay clear". Not really any cute sentimentality to it.

I guess it's interesting that other germanic languages also have similar-sounding words ("poep" in Dutch, pronounced like "poop") with the same meaning. So I guess its not a recent word.

Improve this answer
-5

Kacke - Katzen-Kacke

Kacke is the funny way of saying Scheiße

Improve this answer
4
  • Is Kacke really funny? With Kagge as a derived form maybe, but Kacke in itself?
    – Jan
    Commented Aug 22, 2016 at 12:10
  • 9
    I don't think 'Kacke' is funny. If you say "Das ist Kacke!" you don't really want to make it sound funny.
    – Tobi
    Commented Aug 22, 2016 at 12:13
  • 3
    Kacke is not intrinsically funny, but can be used in a funny manner. However, it can just as well be used in an annoyed, dismissive or aggressive manner.It really depends on the tone.
    – Estharon
    Commented Aug 22, 2016 at 12:13
  • Additionally, it shouldn’t be spelled with a hyphen.
    – idmean
    Commented Aug 22, 2016 at 16:03

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.