See Schmiergeld in All languages combined, or Wiktionary
{
"descendants": [
{
"descendants": [
{
"lang": "Indonesian",
"lang_code": "id",
"tags": [
"calque"
],
"word": "uang pelumas"
},
{
"lang": "Indonesian",
"lang_code": "id",
"tags": [
"calque",
"calque"
],
"word": "uang pelicin"
},
{
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"tags": [
"calque"
],
"word": "uang semir"
}
],
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"lang_code": "nl",
"raw_tags": [
"borrowed"
],
"word": "smeergeld"
}
],
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "de",
"2": "schmieren",
"3": "Geld",
"gloss1": "to bribe",
"gloss2": "money"
},
"expansion": "schmieren (“to bribe”) + Geld (“money”)",
"name": "compound"
}
],
"etymology_text": "From schmieren (“to bribe”) + Geld (“money”). First attested 1616.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "Schmiergeldes",
"tags": [
"genitive"
]
},
{
"form": "Schmiergelds",
"tags": [
"genitive"
]
},
{
"form": "Schmiergelder",
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"plural"
]
},
{
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"source": "declension",
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},
{
"form": "de-ndecl",
"source": "declension",
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},
{
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"nominative",
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{
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},
{
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},
{
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},
{
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},
{
"form": "Schmiergeld",
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]
},
{
"form": "Schmiergelde",
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"singular"
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},
{
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"definite",
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]
},
{
"form": "Schmiergeld",
"source": "declension",
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},
{
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}
],
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"geld"
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"lang": "German",
"lang_code": "de",
"pos": "noun",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
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"kind": "other",
"name": "German entries with incorrect language header",
"parents": [],
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"bold_text_offsets": [
[
503,
514
]
],
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[
480,
491
]
],
"english": "Concerning the shepherds, there is likewise a little to be said. Either the entire community of peasants, or certain neighbors, own the sheepfold. Those who own the sheepfold hire the shepherd, and he calls them his “sheep-lords.” These “sheep-lords” imagine themselves to be fine gentlemen, and the peasants—otherwise rough enough—must dance to their tune as they demand. At one time it was heard that those who were his shepherds (a customary turn of phrase) grumbled about the bribe money, and they would gladly have involved the parish priest in their lawsuit for insult; but he politely declined their contamination which they sought to bring upon him.",
"ref": "1616, \"Veroandro aus Wahrburg\", Des Neunhäutigen und haimbüchene schlimmen Bauren-Stands und Wandels, entdeckte Ubel-Sitten-und Laster-Prob, aller praktikischen Fünden und Grifflein, deren sie sich ... aus der Gauckel-Tasche ihrer schalckhafften Behendigkeit zu bedienen wissen, und wie solche zu erkennen ... (Of the nine-skinned and secretly malicious peasant class and way of life: a revealed sample of their evil customs and vices, of all the crafty schemes and little tricks they know how to draw from the juggling pouch of their roguish cleverness—and how such things may be recognized.), page 97:",
"text": "Von den Schaaf-Hirten ist gleichfalls auch etwas weniges zu sagen. Entweder hat die gantze Gemeinde der Bauren / oder gewisse Nachbarn die Schäferey. Welche nun die Schäferey haben die dingen den Schäfer / und selbige heisset er seine Schaaf-Herren. Diese Schaaf-Herren düncken sich seine schlechte Leute seyn / und müßen ihnen die Bauren welche sonst schlimm genug / wie sie begehren / nach ihrer Pfeiffen tanzen. Einmal hörte man / die seine Schafer waren (formula loquendi Ruteris usitata,) über das Schmiergeld grunzen / und hätten sie auch gern den Herrn Pfarrer in ihren Injurii-Proceß miteingewickelt / aber er bedanckte sich ganz höflich ihrer Infection, so sie zu ihme trugen.",
"translation": "Concerning the shepherds, there is likewise a little to be said. Either the entire community of peasants, or certain neighbors, own the sheepfold. Those who own the sheepfold hire the shepherd, and he calls them his “sheep-lords.” These “sheep-lords” imagine themselves to be fine gentlemen, and the peasants—otherwise rough enough—must dance to their tune as they demand. At one time it was heard that those who were his shepherds (a customary turn of phrase) grumbled about the bribe money, and they would gladly have involved the parish priest in their lawsuit for insult; but he politely declined their contamination which they sought to bring upon him.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
257,
268
]
],
"bold_translation_offsets": [
[
240,
255
]
],
"english": "“I'm not surprised\", said Schickot, with what happens among the welschen, who have to buy such offices and estates with a lot of money; – the judge rarely does his job without getting his palms greased; Why? because he bought his office by greasing a palm himself.",
"ref": "1640, Johann Michael Moscherosch, chapter 5, in Philanders von Sittenwald wunderliche und wahrhaftige Gesichte – Erster Teil, Reclam, published 1883:",
"text": "»Mich wundert zwar nicht, sprach Schickot, was bei den Welschen geschieht, die solche Aemter und Stände mit vielem Gelde erkaufen müssen; – selten verrichtet der Richter sein Amt, ohne daß er sich schmieren läßt; warum? weil er selbst sich sein Amt durch's Schmiergeld erkauft hat.",
"translation": "“I'm not surprised\", said Schickot, with what happens among the welschen, who have to buy such offices and estates with a lot of money; – the judge rarely does his job without getting his palms greased; Why? because he bought his office by greasing a palm himself.",
"type": "quotation"
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437,
448
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424,
430
]
],
"english": "“The evils,” as Williams summarizes his detailed description of the Chinese legal situation, “that result from the fact that the civil service is poorly paid and therefore venal, they are terrible, and the prospect of improving these conditions is very slim.” \"Injustice and corruption,\" admits the Chinese Wen Shing, \"have always been the rule in our courts. No one here expects to get through a trial successfully without bribes and influential backers.\"",
"ref": "1910 October 7, “Die Einmischung der katholischen Missionäre in das chinesische Gerichtswesen (The intervention of Catholic missionaries in the Chinese judicial system)”, in Die katholischen Missionen, page 5:",
"text": "„Die Übel“, so faßt Williams seine eingehende Schilderung der chinesischen Rechtszustände zusammen, „die sich daraus ergeben, daß der Beamtenstand schlecht bezahlt und daher käuflich ist, sind schrecklich und die Aussicht auf Besserung dieser Zustände sehr gering.“ „Ungerechtigkeit und Bestechlichkeit“, so gesteht der Chinese Wen Shing, „waren bei unsern Gerichten von jeher die Regel. Kein Mensch erwartet hier, bei einem Prozeß ohne Schmiergeld und einflußreiche Hintermänner glücklich durchzukommen.“",
"translation": "“The evils,” as Williams summarizes his detailed description of the Chinese legal situation, “that result from the fact that the civil service is poorly paid and therefore venal, they are terrible, and the prospect of improving these conditions is very slim.” \"Injustice and corruption,\" admits the Chinese Wen Shing, \"have always been the rule in our courts. No one here expects to get through a trial successfully without bribes and influential backers.\"",
"type": "quotation"
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{
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413,
424
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[
377,
385
]
],
"english": "Indeed, many companies claim they have no other choice. They say: If we don't bribe, we won't get into the market at all, and then, especially abroad, we won't get any orders. This claim is not wrong, but not entirely true either. Many dealings with African and Asian countries, where corruption is the order of the day, are not worth it, because the amounts that must go into pay-offs are exorbitant. You could do without these dealings. Unfortunately, virtually no company does this.",
"ref": "2007 April 2, Tobias Haberl, quoting Britta Banneberg, “Die meisten machen mit (Most participate)”, in fluter:",
"text": "In der Tat behaupten viele Unternehmen, keine andere Wahl zu haben. Sie sagen: Wenn wir nicht bestechen, kommen wir gar nicht in den Markt, dann bekommen wir, vor allem im Ausland, keine Aufträge. Diese Behauptung ist nicht falsch, aber auch nicht ganz richtig. Viele Geschäfte mit afrikanischen und asiatischen Ländern, in denen Korruption an der Tagesordnung ist, lohnen sich gar nicht, weil die Summen, die an Schmiergeld gezahlt werden müssen, exorbitant sind. Auf diese Geschäfte könnte man verzichten. Leider tut das so gut wie kein Unternehmen.",
"translation": "Indeed, many companies claim they have no other choice. They say: If we don't bribe, we won't get into the market at all, and then, especially abroad, we won't get any orders. This claim is not wrong, but not entirely true either. Many dealings with African and Asian countries, where corruption is the order of the day, are not worth it, because the amounts that must go into pay-offs are exorbitant. You could do without these dealings. Unfortunately, virtually no company does this.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"lubrication payment, bribe"
],
"id": "en-Schmiergeld-de-noun-ozPYurkj",
"links": [
[
"lubrication payment",
"lubrication payment"
],
[
"bribe",
"bribe"
]
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "Bestechungsgeld"
},
{
"word": "Bakschisch"
}
],
"tags": [
"neuter",
"strong"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈʃmiːɐ̯ˌɡɛlt/"
},
{
"audio": "De-Schmiergeld.ogg",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/d/d9/De-Schmiergeld.ogg/De-Schmiergeld.ogg.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/De-Schmiergeld.ogg",
"tags": [
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"Berlin"
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],
"word": "Schmiergeld"
}
{
"descendants": [
{
"descendants": [
{
"lang": "Indonesian",
"lang_code": "id",
"tags": [
"calque"
],
"word": "uang pelumas"
},
{
"lang": "Indonesian",
"lang_code": "id",
"tags": [
"calque",
"calque"
],
"word": "uang pelicin"
},
{
"lang": "Indonesian",
"lang_code": "id",
"tags": [
"calque"
],
"word": "uang semir"
}
],
"lang": "Dutch",
"lang_code": "nl",
"raw_tags": [
"borrowed"
],
"word": "smeergeld"
}
],
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
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"2": "schmieren",
"3": "Geld",
"gloss1": "to bribe",
"gloss2": "money"
},
"expansion": "schmieren (“to bribe”) + Geld (“money”)",
"name": "compound"
}
],
"etymology_text": "From schmieren (“to bribe”) + Geld (“money”). First attested 1616.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "Schmiergeldes",
"tags": [
"genitive"
]
},
{
"form": "Schmiergelds",
"tags": [
"genitive"
]
},
{
"form": "Schmiergelder",
"tags": [
"plural"
]
},
{
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"source": "declension",
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"table-tags"
]
},
{
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},
{
"form": "Schmiergeld",
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"singular"
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},
{
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},
{
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},
{
"form": "Schmiergelds",
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"genitive",
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},
{
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]
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{
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]
},
{
"form": "Schmiergelde",
"source": "declension",
"tags": [
"dative",
"singular"
]
},
{
"form": "Schmiergeldern",
"source": "declension",
"tags": [
"dative",
"definite",
"plural"
]
},
{
"form": "Schmiergeld",
"source": "declension",
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"accusative",
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{
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"definite",
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"expansion": "Schmiergeld n (strong, genitive Schmiergeldes or Schmiergelds, plural Schmiergelder)",
"name": "de-noun"
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"parts": [
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"geld"
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"lang": "German",
"lang_code": "de",
"pos": "noun",
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{
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"German entries with incorrect language header",
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503,
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480,
491
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"english": "Concerning the shepherds, there is likewise a little to be said. Either the entire community of peasants, or certain neighbors, own the sheepfold. Those who own the sheepfold hire the shepherd, and he calls them his “sheep-lords.” These “sheep-lords” imagine themselves to be fine gentlemen, and the peasants—otherwise rough enough—must dance to their tune as they demand. At one time it was heard that those who were his shepherds (a customary turn of phrase) grumbled about the bribe money, and they would gladly have involved the parish priest in their lawsuit for insult; but he politely declined their contamination which they sought to bring upon him.",
"ref": "1616, \"Veroandro aus Wahrburg\", Des Neunhäutigen und haimbüchene schlimmen Bauren-Stands und Wandels, entdeckte Ubel-Sitten-und Laster-Prob, aller praktikischen Fünden und Grifflein, deren sie sich ... aus der Gauckel-Tasche ihrer schalckhafften Behendigkeit zu bedienen wissen, und wie solche zu erkennen ... (Of the nine-skinned and secretly malicious peasant class and way of life: a revealed sample of their evil customs and vices, of all the crafty schemes and little tricks they know how to draw from the juggling pouch of their roguish cleverness—and how such things may be recognized.), page 97:",
"text": "Von den Schaaf-Hirten ist gleichfalls auch etwas weniges zu sagen. Entweder hat die gantze Gemeinde der Bauren / oder gewisse Nachbarn die Schäferey. Welche nun die Schäferey haben die dingen den Schäfer / und selbige heisset er seine Schaaf-Herren. Diese Schaaf-Herren düncken sich seine schlechte Leute seyn / und müßen ihnen die Bauren welche sonst schlimm genug / wie sie begehren / nach ihrer Pfeiffen tanzen. Einmal hörte man / die seine Schafer waren (formula loquendi Ruteris usitata,) über das Schmiergeld grunzen / und hätten sie auch gern den Herrn Pfarrer in ihren Injurii-Proceß miteingewickelt / aber er bedanckte sich ganz höflich ihrer Infection, so sie zu ihme trugen.",
"translation": "Concerning the shepherds, there is likewise a little to be said. Either the entire community of peasants, or certain neighbors, own the sheepfold. Those who own the sheepfold hire the shepherd, and he calls them his “sheep-lords.” These “sheep-lords” imagine themselves to be fine gentlemen, and the peasants—otherwise rough enough—must dance to their tune as they demand. At one time it was heard that those who were his shepherds (a customary turn of phrase) grumbled about the bribe money, and they would gladly have involved the parish priest in their lawsuit for insult; but he politely declined their contamination which they sought to bring upon him.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
257,
268
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],
"bold_translation_offsets": [
[
240,
255
]
],
"english": "“I'm not surprised\", said Schickot, with what happens among the welschen, who have to buy such offices and estates with a lot of money; – the judge rarely does his job without getting his palms greased; Why? because he bought his office by greasing a palm himself.",
"ref": "1640, Johann Michael Moscherosch, chapter 5, in Philanders von Sittenwald wunderliche und wahrhaftige Gesichte – Erster Teil, Reclam, published 1883:",
"text": "»Mich wundert zwar nicht, sprach Schickot, was bei den Welschen geschieht, die solche Aemter und Stände mit vielem Gelde erkaufen müssen; – selten verrichtet der Richter sein Amt, ohne daß er sich schmieren läßt; warum? weil er selbst sich sein Amt durch's Schmiergeld erkauft hat.",
"translation": "“I'm not surprised\", said Schickot, with what happens among the welschen, who have to buy such offices and estates with a lot of money; – the judge rarely does his job without getting his palms greased; Why? because he bought his office by greasing a palm himself.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
437,
448
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],
"bold_translation_offsets": [
[
424,
430
]
],
"english": "“The evils,” as Williams summarizes his detailed description of the Chinese legal situation, “that result from the fact that the civil service is poorly paid and therefore venal, they are terrible, and the prospect of improving these conditions is very slim.” \"Injustice and corruption,\" admits the Chinese Wen Shing, \"have always been the rule in our courts. No one here expects to get through a trial successfully without bribes and influential backers.\"",
"ref": "1910 October 7, “Die Einmischung der katholischen Missionäre in das chinesische Gerichtswesen (The intervention of Catholic missionaries in the Chinese judicial system)”, in Die katholischen Missionen, page 5:",
"text": "„Die Übel“, so faßt Williams seine eingehende Schilderung der chinesischen Rechtszustände zusammen, „die sich daraus ergeben, daß der Beamtenstand schlecht bezahlt und daher käuflich ist, sind schrecklich und die Aussicht auf Besserung dieser Zustände sehr gering.“ „Ungerechtigkeit und Bestechlichkeit“, so gesteht der Chinese Wen Shing, „waren bei unsern Gerichten von jeher die Regel. Kein Mensch erwartet hier, bei einem Prozeß ohne Schmiergeld und einflußreiche Hintermänner glücklich durchzukommen.“",
"translation": "“The evils,” as Williams summarizes his detailed description of the Chinese legal situation, “that result from the fact that the civil service is poorly paid and therefore venal, they are terrible, and the prospect of improving these conditions is very slim.” \"Injustice and corruption,\" admits the Chinese Wen Shing, \"have always been the rule in our courts. No one here expects to get through a trial successfully without bribes and influential backers.\"",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
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413,
424
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377,
385
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],
"english": "Indeed, many companies claim they have no other choice. They say: If we don't bribe, we won't get into the market at all, and then, especially abroad, we won't get any orders. This claim is not wrong, but not entirely true either. Many dealings with African and Asian countries, where corruption is the order of the day, are not worth it, because the amounts that must go into pay-offs are exorbitant. You could do without these dealings. Unfortunately, virtually no company does this.",
"ref": "2007 April 2, Tobias Haberl, quoting Britta Banneberg, “Die meisten machen mit (Most participate)”, in fluter:",
"text": "In der Tat behaupten viele Unternehmen, keine andere Wahl zu haben. Sie sagen: Wenn wir nicht bestechen, kommen wir gar nicht in den Markt, dann bekommen wir, vor allem im Ausland, keine Aufträge. Diese Behauptung ist nicht falsch, aber auch nicht ganz richtig. Viele Geschäfte mit afrikanischen und asiatischen Ländern, in denen Korruption an der Tagesordnung ist, lohnen sich gar nicht, weil die Summen, die an Schmiergeld gezahlt werden müssen, exorbitant sind. Auf diese Geschäfte könnte man verzichten. Leider tut das so gut wie kein Unternehmen.",
"translation": "Indeed, many companies claim they have no other choice. They say: If we don't bribe, we won't get into the market at all, and then, especially abroad, we won't get any orders. This claim is not wrong, but not entirely true either. Many dealings with African and Asian countries, where corruption is the order of the day, are not worth it, because the amounts that must go into pay-offs are exorbitant. You could do without these dealings. Unfortunately, virtually no company does this.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"lubrication payment, bribe"
],
"links": [
[
"lubrication payment",
"lubrication payment"
],
[
"bribe",
"bribe"
]
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "Bestechungsgeld"
},
{
"word": "Bakschisch"
}
],
"tags": [
"neuter",
"strong"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈʃmiːɐ̯ˌɡɛlt/"
},
{
"audio": "De-Schmiergeld.ogg",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/d/d9/De-Schmiergeld.ogg/De-Schmiergeld.ogg.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/De-Schmiergeld.ogg",
"tags": [
"Germany",
"Berlin"
]
}
],
"word": "Schmiergeld"
}
Download raw JSONL data for Schmiergeld meaning in German (10.4kB)
This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable German dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-09-09 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-09-02 using wiktextract (ccec6f1 and 4deed51). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.
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