Backpfeifengesicht

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punchable face, face that deserves a slap
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/ˈbakp͡faɪ̯fənɡəˌzɪçt/
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A colloquial insult for a face whose smug or irritating look seems to invite a slap.
Practice using Backpfeifengesicht in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • Das Meme zeigt ein Backpfeifengesicht, das jeder sofort erkennt.
    The meme shows a punchable face that everyone recognizes immediately.
  • Ihr selbstgefälliges Grinsen machte das Backpfeifengesicht nur noch schlimmer.
    Her smug grin made the face begging for a slap even worse.
  • Der arrogante Kandidat hatte ein echtes Backpfeifengesicht.
    The arrogant candidate had a real punchable face.
  • In der Komödie spielt er absichtlich den Nachbarn mit dem Backpfeifengesicht.
    In the comedy, he deliberately plays the neighbor with the punchable face.
  • Der Schurke braucht keinen langen Monolog, weil sein Backpfeifengesicht schon alles sagt.
    The villain needs no long monologue, because his smackable face already says everything.

Similar words

Ohrfeigengesicht
Gesicht zum Reinschlagen
Watschengesicht
Gesicht wie ein Feuermelder

Meanings

Punchable face

noun
social interaction
slang
A face whose smug, foolish, or irritating look seems to invite a slap.

Examples

  • Der arrogante Kandidat hatte ein echtes Backpfeifengesicht.
    The arrogant candidate had a real punchable face.
  • Ihr selbstgefälliges Grinsen machte das Backpfeifengesicht nur noch schlimmer.
    Her smug grin made the face begging for a slap even worse.
  • In der Komödie spielt er absichtlich den Nachbarn mit dem Backpfeifengesicht.
    In the comedy, he deliberately plays the neighbor with the punchable face.
  • Das Meme zeigt ein Backpfeifengesicht, das jeder sofort erkennt.
    The meme shows a punchable face that everyone recognizes immediately.
  • Nach seinem Kommentar nannte sie ihn lachend ein Backpfeifengesicht.
    After his comment, she laughingly called him a punchable face.
  • Der Schurke braucht keinen langen Monolog, weil sein Backpfeifengesicht schon alles sagt.
    The villain needs no long monologue, because his smackable face already says everything.

Similar words

Ohrfeigengesicht
Watschengesicht
Gesicht zum Reinschlagen
Gesicht wie ein Feuermelder

Etymology

A German compound of Backpfeife, meaning a slap in the face or on the cheek, the linking element -n-, and Gesicht, meaning face.

FAQ

What does Backpfeifengesicht mean?

Backpfeifengesicht means a face that looks so smug, foolish, or irritating that it seems to invite a slap.

Is Backpfeifengesicht formal German?

No. Backpfeifengesicht is colloquial and insulting, so it belongs in jokes, commentary, or informal speech.

What gender is Backpfeifengesicht?

Backpfeifengesicht is neuter: das Backpfeifengesicht.

What is the plural of Backpfeifengesicht?

The plural is Backpfeifengesichter.

Where does Backpfeifengesicht come from?

Backpfeifengesicht combines Backpfeife, a slap in the face or on the cheek, with Gesicht, meaning face.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
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Contribution
Minty Condor
Aug 19
Some people know it from the Ärzte song too. Thats why it can have this jokey punk-song flavour for older Germans, not only dictionary curiosity.
2
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Trusty Tapir
Aug 18
Backpfeifengesicht ist so ein schönes hässliches Wort.
0
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Contribution
Marble Heron
Aug 15
I save this word for politicians, villains, influencers, people on TV. Face to face it can stop being playful very fast, because you are still saying the face deserves a slap.
4
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Quiet Squirrel
Aug 12
the pf twice in one word is rude by itself tbh
0
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Contribution
Dapper Puma
Aug 9
Gesicht wie ein Feuermelder confused me the first time. The hidden bit is zum Einschlagen, like with the alarm, so its basically the same rude picture.
2
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Contribution
Jaunty Chipmunk
Aug 2
English speakers sometimes treat this as a magic untranslatable word, but punchable face is already pretty close. The German one just has that compound-word comedy on top.
3
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Silver Salamander
Aug 3
yeah, the English is mean enough already, German just makes it funnier to say
1
Contribution
Fluffy Zebra
Jul 31
Backpfeife by itself feels a bit regional or old-fashioned to me. I would say Ohrfeige in normal standard German, but I still understand Backpfeifengesicht immediately.
2
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Patient Badger
Jul 30
German really looked at compound nouns and chose violence here lol
1
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Contribution
Stormy Tiger
Jul 28
dont use this just for ugly, please. A sweet-looking person with an awful smug grin can have Backpfeifengesicht, thats the point. Plain ugly is a different insult
5
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Contribution
Jaunty Hamster
Jul 23
I would teach it as er hat ein Backpfeifengesicht first. du Backpfeifengesicht exists, sure, but that sounds like playground yelling to me, not how I normally hear the word
4
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Contribution
Hearty Bobcat
Jul 23
In Austria and Bavaria I hear Watschengesicht more often. Watschn is the slap, same joke, just sounds less like someone found it on a funny German words list
6
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