The Bavarian card game of Schafkopf has such a plethora of special words, terms and phrases that it is described as a Schafkopf language () which is often unintelligible to outsiders. The language ranges from associative terms to coarse language. Grumbling, bleating and schimpfing are part of the game of Schafkopf and are, so to speak, the "salt in the soup". Here are examples of some of the more common words, names and phrases.Schafkopfweisheiten der Schafkopfschule e. V.
Note: the expressions listed here are mainly those used in the Old Bavarian dialect, although the most common terms are used throughout Bavaria and thus also found in the Franconian, Swabian and Hessian (Aschaffenburg, Odenwald) dialects. Regional terms are designated as such. Note that some idioms cannot be precisely translated or may lose their poetry or impact in English. Where no translation is offered, the original is used.
Card names Nicknames given to the Obers and Unters Card Schafkopf language English translation ImageOber of Acorns (Eichel-Ober) der Alte (Bavarian da Oide); der, den keiner kann; der is hoch; des is ned da Gleansde (Franconian for: "das ist nicht der Kleinste"); der höchste in Bayern; der Josef the Old Man, he whom no-one can [beat]; he's high; that's not the smallest; the highest in Bavaria; Joseph Ober of Leaves (Gras/Grün-Ober) der Blaue, Grüne, des Peterl(e), der Schinder-Hansl, der Jäger, der Laubige, der Biber, der Trommler the Blue Man, the Green Man, the Parsley, Schinderhannes (German outlaw), the Hunter, the Leafy Man, the Beaver, the Drummer Ober of Hearts (Herz-Ober) der Rote, der RoudeAnleitung at schafkopfhaie.de. Retrieved 10 October 2020./Raouder/Raoude, Herzer, Fuchs, Lump, Bremser-Dirk (verhindert drei Laufende), Erdbeer-Schorsch, Bardolio (Aschaffenburger Region), Schindahans (Niederbayern) the Red Man (x3), the Heart-er, the Fox, the Scallywag, Brakeman Dirk (prevents 3 runners), Strawberry George, Bardolio (Aschaffenburg region), Schinderhannes (German outlaw - Lower Bavaria) Ober of Bells (Schell(e)n-Ober) der Runde, der Bugl, der Schiache (der Häßliche), der (Schelln-)Buckel(ige), Mehlhaans, Glöbberer, der Gelbe, der Braune, Bunte, der Schlamberde (Franconian for der Schlampige), der Nie-Stach, die späte Bremse the Round Man, the Bump, the Mean One (Ugly One), Bell Bump, Flour Johnny, Whisker/Stirrer (East Franconian), the Yellow Man, the Brown Man, the Coloured One, the Shoddy One (Franconian), the Never Won [a Trick], the Late Brake (never prevents 3 runners) Unter of Acorns (Eichel-Unter) der Alte Unter (Bavarian da Oide unda), der Höchste, der Wensel, der Junge the Old Unter, the Highest, the Wenzel (Jack), the Young Man (c.f. the Ober of Acorns) Unter of Leaves (Gras/Grün-Unter) der blaue Unter, der Pfeiffer, der Vize the Blue Unter, the Piper, the Vice Unter of Hearts (Rote Unter / Herz-Unter) dritter the third one Unter of Bells (Schellen-Unter) kleinster Unter smallest Unter
Nicknames for the Aces / Sows Card Schafkopf language English translation ImageAce/Deuce of Acorns (Eichel-As/Daus)Eichel-Sau, Alt-Sau, die Alte (bairisch de Oide), die 1, Gattin, Eichulia die Waldschnepfe, Waldsau, Haus-Sau, d’Mama, "dahoam liegt's" "I spiel mit der dahoim" (Allgäu) "wenn I heimgeh" Acorn Sow; Old Sow; the Old Girl; the [Number] One; the Wife; Eichulia the Woodcock; the Forest Sow; the House Sow; the Mama; 'er indoors, I'll play at home Ace of Leaves (Gras-As, Laub-As) Gras-Sau / Gros-Sau, Grün-Sau, die Grüne, Blau-Sau, die Blaue, Blue-Henne, Blue-Jeans, Gras-Hupfer, alte Frau Landrat, Gärtnerin, d’Blue Mary Lu/Mary Blue, die Blausäure, Förster-Christl, die 2, Bäckerwam, Dolores, Adria, das Blumenstöckerl, Stadtparkliesl, Cordon Bleu (Auf die Cordon), Donau, Mannschaft, Abdellaoue (Verballhornung von "Auf die Blaue"), Bsufferne, Salat-Bärbel, Mo(o)ser-Julie, Frau Förster, Försterin/Forstmeisterin (mit der Blauen, der Genauen/da wirst schauen, Blau-Sau is Hausau!, Wie ist der Mann? – Blau ist der Mann! usw.), mit der Blauen, der Genauen, mit der Mannschaftsaufstellung Grass Sow; Blue Sow; the Blue Girl; Blue Hen; Blue Jeans; Grasshopper, Old Mrs Mayor; Lady Gardener; Blue Mary-Lou; Prussic Acid; Forester Christl; the Two; Baker's Wife; Dolores; Adria; the Flower; Town Park Liesl; Cordon Bleu; [Blue] Danube; Team (reference to TSV 1860 Munich); Abdellaoue (corruption of "auf die Blaue"); Drunk Woman; Salad Barbie; Grumpy Julia; Forester's Wife, Mrs Forester (with the Blue One, the True One; with the Blue, you'll see too; the Blue Sow is the Champion Sow; How is the man? Blue is the man?); with the Blue One, the True One; with the Team Line-up (reference to TSV 1860 Munich's former magazine) Ace of Hearts (Herz-As) die Rote, Blut-Sau, als Trumpfschmiere manchmal ’s Pfund (has few special names because it cannot be called), the Red Girl; Blood Sow, the Pound (as a trump 'smear') Ace of Bells (Schellen-As) Schellen-Sau, die Runde, Kug(e)l, Kugelbauersophie, Kugelbauer-Theres, -Theresia [Oberbayern], die 4, Bum(b)s/Pumps/Pumpe/Bumb(e)l, Bumbs, Bumpe, Bumpel, Pumpel, Bumskugel, Bucklerte, Geldsau, Dümmste, Schlas(s), Benzin-Resi/Sau, Lump(-ate/-ige), Oberpumpelmoser, Schlechterne, Schellige, die wo die Bauern ’zammtreibt, Sauhund (de wo da Hund dromhockt, der Hund flackt drauf [Schwaben], Hundaufghockte [Oberbayern], Bäber-/Odlmannsgwadschn [Mittelfranken]), Christbaumkugelsau, Schwanzeldrahtsaufi, Kuglbäurin, Hannes-Sau, Rapunzel, as Stodlfenster, die Firabechere Bell Sow; the Round Girl; the Ball; Cannonballmaker Sophie/Theresa (Upper Bavaria); the Four; Bum(b)s ('fart'); Pumpe/Bumpe ('splash', 'loud fart'); Bumbl/Bumpel/Pumpel ('fat woman', 'ball'); Bumskugel ('ball'); Bucklerte ('Humpy'); Piggy Bank, Dumbest One, Schlass, Petrol Tess/Sow, Shoddy, Grumpy Little Fat Man, the Poor One, Bell-y, the one the farmers round up; the Sow Dog (and many very colourful descriptions such as "the one the dog hangs around", etc.); Christmas Tree Bauble Sow; Schwanzeldrahtsaufi; Mrs. Cannonballmaker; Johnny's Sow; Rapunzel; the Barn Window; the Firabechere
Other card nicknames Card Schafkopf language English translation ImageAces, Sows, Deuces (Ässe, Saue, Däuser) Pfunde pounds Tens (Zehner) Eisenbahner, Schwellnhupfa railwaymen, [railway]-sleeper hopper Nines, Eights, Sevens (Neuner, Achter, Siebener) Spatzen, Nichtser, Leere, Lusch(e)n, Zwiebeln, Hupen, Faule, Deppen sparrows (also court cards in Solo), nothings, empty cards/empties, blanks, onions, hooters, idlers, muppets Aces and Tens (Asse und Zehner)Schmier(age), Volle, Lange, Ganzer smears, full 'uns, long 'uns, whole 'uns Obers (in Wenz: Unters)Bauern, Herren, Männer, Obretten, Speisenträger, Buckel, Haxn, Harte bowers/farmers, lords, men, waiters, hunchbacks, (pork) knuckles, hard ones Unters (and Obers)Wenzen, Buam, Eichel-Unter = "Beisser", Schellen-Unter = "Flying Her(r)mann" Wenzels, bowers/farmers, Unter of Acorns = Biter, Unter of Bells = Flying Her(r)mann Ober or Unter which breaks the run of matadors Brems(er), Billigmacher, Zahlbremse, Laufbremse, Uhrenbremse (Allgäu) brakeman, cost saver, points brake, running brake, clock brake (Allgäu) Obers of Acorns and Leaves Hochzeit wedding Ace, Ten and King of same suit Einundzwanzig (Fünfundzwanzig) twenty-one (twenty-five) Acorns Eichhorn, Euchl Eichhorn (the Lobster moth), Acorns King of Hearts Max(i) Max or Maxi Seven of Acorns Soacher, Spitz pee-er, Spitz (from the card game of Watten) Seven of Bells Belle, Welle (Übernahme aus dem Kartenspiel "Wattn") Belle, Welle (from the card game of Watten) Eight of BellsSenf, Oschboa, Bimbel Mustard, Oschboa, Bimbel Obers and Unters in unbroken sequence from the top Laufende, Haxen Runners
Contracts Various words and phrases are used to describe or announce the different Schafkopf contracts: