German word

Dreck

Pronunciation

IPA/drɛk/

Meaning

  • masculine noundirt

Example

Ich habe den Dreck vom Teppich entfernt.

I removed the dirt from the carpet.

Illustration for Dreck (dirt)

More examples

Die Kinder spielen im Dreck.

The children play in the dirt.

Core concept

Grimy residue and scattered waste left on a surface or in a place.

Common phrases

  • im Dreck spielen

    play in dirt

  • mit Dreck verschmiert

    covered in dirt

  • ein Schuh voller Dreck

    a shoe full of dirt

Similar words

Schmutz: Everyday dirt stuck to things or found in a place.
Verschmutzung: Serious, lasting contamination across the environment or a broad area.
Unrat: Disorderly rubbish and dirty leftovers abandoned in a street or place.
Sauerei: A very dirty, unpleasant mess or condition.

Definition in German

Dreck ist ein umgangssprachliches Wort für sichtbaren Schmutz oder Unrat, besonders Erde, Schlamm und ähnliche Rückstände.

Word origin

The noun Dreck continues an old Germanic word recorded in Middle High German as drec and related to Dutch drek, whose meanings include dirt and waste.

Usage tips

  • Dreck is colloquial and can sound rough, while Schmutz is generally the more neutral word for dirt.

Other meanings

  • rubbishnoun
  • mudnoun

Opposites

  • Sauberkeitcleanlinessnoun
  • Reinheitpuritynoun

Related words

  • dreckigdirtyadjective
  • verdreckenmake dirtyverb
  • Dreckhaufenrubbish heapnoun

Word lists with this word