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noun

die Affenhitze, null

sweltering heat

Definition & meaning

Affenhitze means extreme, oppressive heat—roughly “scorching heat” or, informally, “blistering hot weather.” It is colloquial and often conveys that the heat feels unpleasant or hard to bear. The Affen- part is an intensifier; it does not mean that monkeys are involved.

Grammar & Word origin

Affenhitze is a feminine noun: die Affenhitze. It is usually used in the singular; a plural form is uncommon.

The word is a compound of Affe (“monkey”) and Hitze (“heat”). Here, Affen- works as an expressive, colloquial intensifier, suggesting an unusually high degree of heat.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • Gluthitze — scorching or searing heat; vivid, but less colloquial.
  • Bullenhitze — very similar in meaning and also informal.
  • Höllenhitze — “hellish heat”; particularly emphatic and dramatic.
  • extreme Hitze — a neutral, more formal expression.

Antonyms:

  • Kälte — cold; the general opposite of heat.
  • Eiseskälte — intense, bitter cold; more emphatic than Kälte.

Common phrases & collocations

  • Bei dieser Affenhitze ist jede Bewegung anstrengend. — “In this scorching heat, any movement is tiring.”
  • Die Affenhitze ist kaum auszuhalten. — “The heat is almost unbearable.”
  • eine Affenhitze haben — “to be unbearably hot.”

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Examples

Wegen der Affenhitze habe ich gestern kaum schlafen können.noun

Because of the sweltering heat I could hardly sleep yesterday.

Trotz der Affenhitze habe ich das lange Training geschafft.noun

Despite the sweltering heat I managed the long training.

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