German Conversation · Level 89
59 words
German word
schwul
Pronunciation
IPA/ʃvuːl/
Meaning
- adjectivegay
Example
Er ist schwul.
He is gay.
More examples
Viele Politiker vermeiden es, offen schwul zu sein.
Many politicians avoid being openly gay.
Core concept
A same-sex romantic orientation, commonly pictured as a man attracted to men.
Common phrases
offen schwul sein
be openly gay
für schwul gehalten werden
be considered gay
sich als schwul outen
come out as gay
Similar words
gay: Describes someone who is romantically or sexually attracted to people of the same sex.
homosexuell: Relates to same-sex romantic or sexual attraction or relationships.
queer: Relates to a sexual orientation or gender identity outside the mainstream.
lesbisch: Describes a woman who is romantically or sexually attracted to women.
Definition in German
Die sexuelle oder romantische Orientierung einer Person als auf Personen des gleichen Geschlechts gerichtet beschreibt.
Word origin
The gay sense of schwul is a later German slang use of an older adjective meaning 'muggy' or 'oppressively hot', with the intermediate change in meaning uncertain.
Usage tips
- German schwul generally describes men, while lesbisch is usual for women; English gay more readily covers both groups.
Opposites
- heterosexuellheterosexualadjective
Related words
- Schwulergay mannoun
- Schwulenbewegunggay movementnoun
- Schwulenparadegay pride paradenoun