fotzig

Definition & meaning

fotzig is a very informal, vulgar German adjective. Most often, it describes someone or something as insolent, cheeky, or offensively mouthy. Depending on context, it can sound more aggressive and crude than ordinary words for “cheeky.”

More rarely, it can mean relating to the female genitals, derived from the vulgar noun Fotze.

Grammar & Word origin

• Part of speech: adjective
• Comparative: fotziger; superlative: am fotzigsten
• Origin: formed from Fotze, a highly vulgar term for the vulva, with the adjective-forming suffix -ig. The word’s vulgar origin gives it a coarse, often insulting tone.

Synonyms & antonyms

Possible synonyms include:

• frech ↗ — “cheeky” or “impertinent”; generally much less vulgar.
• vorlaut ↗ — “too quick to speak” or “impudent”; focuses more on speaking out of turn.
• rotzig ↗ — “brash” or “insolent”; also informal and rude, but not derived from a sexual insult.
• unverschämt ↗ — “shameless” or “outrageous”; broader and not necessarily slang.

Possible antonyms, depending on context:

• höflich ↗ — “polite.”
• zurückhaltend ↗ — “reserved” or “restrained.”

Common phrases & collocations

• eine fotzige Antwort ↗ — a rude, cheeky answer.
• fotzig reden ↗ — to speak in an insolent or crude way.