hinterfotzig

German

Etymology

This term comes from southern Germany, a compound word created from hinter (“behind”) and fotzig, the latter being derived from (regional) Fotze (“mouth, gob”). Therefore, the compound is an adjective for someone who is dishonest and likely to talk behind someone's back.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɪntɐˌfɔt͡sɪç/ (standard)
• IPA^(key): /-ˌfɔt͡sɪk/ (common form in southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland)
• Hyphenation: hin‧ter‧fot‧zig

Adjective

hinterfotzig (comparative hinterfotziger, superlative am hinterfotzigsten)

1. malicious, insidious, sneaky
2. common, low, vulgar, mean

Adverb

hinterfotzig

1. backwards
2. from behind
3. secretly, insidiously, stealthily

Further reading

• “hinterfotzig” in Duden online