other

sich scheren

care

Sich mit einem Rasierer oder einer Klinge Haare am Körper kurz schneiden oder ganz entfernen.

Definition & meaning

The verb sich scheren has two primary meanings depending on the context:

  1. To be concerned or to care about something: In this sense, it is almost exclusively used in negative constructions (e.g., sich um nichts scheren). It implies that someone does not care at all about a situation, a person, or consequences.
  2. To leave or get out of the way: This is a colloquial, often rude or dismissive way of telling someone to go away (e.g., Scher dich weg!). It carries an aggressive or impatient tone.

Note: The verb scheren without the reflexive pronoun "sich" means "to shear" (e.g., to cut the wool off a sheep or to cut hair).

Grammar & Word origin

  • Grammar: It is a reflexive, strong verb. The conjugation follows: ich schere mich, du scherst dich, er schert sich, wir scheren uns, ihr schert euch, sie scheren sich. The past tense is scherte sich and the past participle is sich geschert.
  • Origin: It stems from the Old High German word sceran, meaning "to cut" or "to shear." The transition to the meaning "to care" is idiomatic; it relates to the idea of "troubling oneself" with something. The imperative use ("get out") implies "removing oneself" as if being shorn off or separated from a group.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms for "to care":

  • sich kümmern
  • sich interessieren
  • beachten

Antonyms for "to care":

  • ignorieren
  • vernachlässigen

Synonyms for "to leave/get away":

  • sich verziehen
  • verschwinden
  • abhauen

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Examples

Warum schert ihr euch so wenig darum?other

Why do you care so little about it?

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