German · Emotions & Descriptions
"Dirty" in German: schmutzig
schmutzig
Note: informal: dreckig
Dirty in German is schmutzig. Say Meine Schuhe sind schmutzig after rain. Informal dreckig is stronger and more casual.
After gardening
Meine Hände sind total schmutzig.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce schmutzig
Say it
SHMOOT-tsikh
/ˈʃmʊtsɪç/
SHMOOT-tsikh. Soft sch. Final -ig like ikh.
"Dirty" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| schmutzig | dirty Standard adjective. | Standard adjective. |
| schmutzige Hände | dirty hands Before washing. | Before washing. |
| zu schmutzig | too dirty Not usable as-is. | Not usable as-is. |
| dreckig | filthy / dirty Informal, stronger. | Informal, stronger. |
How to use schmutzig in real life
- 1After gardening
Meine Hände sind total schmutzig.
My hands are totally dirty.
Sind schmutzig.
- 2Laundry
Das T-Shirt ist zu schmutzig fürs Regal.
The T-shirt is too dirty for the shelf.
Zu schmutzig.
- 3Kids
Zieh die schmutzigen Socken aus, bitte.
Take off the dirty socks, please.
Schmutzigen = plural accusative.
Mistakes English speakers make with schmutzig
Incorrect: Meine Hände sind dirty.
Correct: Meine Hände sind schmutzig.
Use schmutzig, not English dirty.
Incorrect: schmutzige (for a neuter noun alone)
Correct: ein schmutziges Hemd
Neuter nominative needs -es: schmutziges.
Good to know
Germans often wipe seats or shake jackets if something looks schmutzig before sitting. In shared laundry rooms, schmutzige Wäsche stays in your bag until your turn.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Coming in from the park
ChatPal
Deine Schuhe sind schmutzig. Bleib an der Tür.
Your shoes are dirty. Stay at the door.
You
Stimmt. Der Weg war schmutzig nach dem Regen.
True. The path was dirty after the rain.
ChatPal
Zieh sie aus. Ich hole eine Zeitung.
Take them off. I'll get a newspaper.
You
Danke. Die Socken sind noch okay.
Thanks. The socks are still fine.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Dirty" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Dirty" in German
How do you say dirty?
Schmutzig.
Dirty hands?
Schmutzige Hände.
Schmutzig vs dreckig?
Dreckig is more informal and stronger.
How do you say too dirty?
Zu schmutzig.
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- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
