sau-

From Sau (“sow, female pig”). Compare schweine-. Further also hunde- or hunds-, from Hund (“dog”).

• IPA^(key): /zaʊ̯/, [z-], (southern also) [s-]

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)); [zäo̯]:

  (file)

sau-

1. (colloquial) Intensifies adjectives.

   Synonyms: arsch-, schweine-

   ‎sau- + ‎teuer (“expensive”) → ‎sauteuer (“very expensive”)

   ‎sau- + ‎geil (“cool, awesome”) → ‎saugeil (“very cool”)

2. (colloquial, derogatory) Creates disparaging or pejorative forms of nouns.

   ‎sau- + ‎Wetter (“weather”) → ‎Sauwetter (“terrible weather”)

   ‎sau- + ‎Arbeit (“work”) → ‎Sauarbeit (“unpleasant work”)