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noun

die Butze, -n

pad

Ein kleines, einfaches Zimmer oder eine kleine Wohnung.

Definition & meaning

Butze is an informal, often regional German word for a small, cramped room or modest place to live. It can also refer to a simple little dwelling or shack. The word is especially associated with northern German usage and may sound casual or mildly dismissive.

Grammar & Word origin

Butze is a feminine noun: die Butze. Its plural is die Butzen.

It is not a compound word. Its origin is uncertain; it is generally considered a regional or Low German word.

Synonyms & antonyms

  • Bude — an informal synonym for a small room or humble place to live; like Butze, it is colloquial, but Bude is more widely used.
  • Kammer — a small room, usually a more neutral or old-fashioned term.
  • Zimmer — the general, neutral word for “room,” without the suggestion of cramped or humble conditions.

There is no exact antonym. Depending on the context, geräumiges Zimmer (“spacious room”) or komfortable Wohnung (“comfortable apartment”) expresses the opposite idea.

Common phrases & collocations

  • in der Butze wohnen — to live in a cramped or modest place.
  • eine kleine Butze — a little, often cramped room or dwelling.

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Examples

Meine Butze ist klein, aber gemütlich.noun

My pad is small but cozy.

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