Definition and pronunciation
schtup (also spelled shtup, shtupp) — verb, vulgar slang: to have sex (often transitive: to schtup someone; sometimes intransitive: they schtupped). Also a noun in informal use: a quick schtup (a brief sexual encounter).
Pronounced /ʃtʊp/ (“shtoop,” short u like book) or /ʃtuːp/.
Easy explanation
Schtup is a rude, comic-sounding word that means to have sex. It’s common in American English with a Yiddish flavor, especially in jokes or scripts. Because it can objectify people, use it carefully and only about consenting adults.
Part of speech and grammar
- Verb (regular): schtup – schtupped – schtupped – schtupping.
- Transitivity: mostly transitive (schtup someone); can be intransitive (they schtupped).
- Noun (informal): a schtup = a sexual encounter; jocular schtupper (person).
- Variants: shtup, schtup, shtupp are all seen; meanings are the same.
Register and tone
Vulgar, comic, and culturally marked (Yiddish-influenced American slang). It can sound dismissive or sexist, especially when used about a person rather than mutual activity.
Connection to sexuality
Yes. In contemporary English schtup almost always refers to sex. A historical Yiddish sense “to stuff/push” rarely appears in English and survives mainly in wordplay.
Common collocations
- schtup someone
- have a schtup (as a noun; informal)
- schtupping around (promiscuity; derogatory)
- a quick schtup, schtup on the side (affair; disapproving)
- get schtupped (coarse passive; best avoided)
Idioms and set phrases
- get schtupped — to be (crudely) described as having sex done to someone; demeaning.
- schtup on the side — secret or extramarital sex; disparaging.
- schtupping around — sleeping around; judgmental tone.
Prepositions and nuance
- schtup [someone] — direct object is standard: He bragged he schtupped a costar (crude).
- schtup with [someone] — names a partner: They were schtupping with each other (still crude).
- schtup on the side — implies secrecy/infidelity.
- schtup around — suggests multiple partners, with a negative judgment.
- for a schtup — motive: He only texted for a schtup (derogatory).
Word comparisons
- have sex / sleep with / be intimate — neutral or polite alternatives; preferred in respectful writing.
- bang / boink — similarly crude; bang is harsher, boink is cartoonish.
- hook up — casual encounter; less crude, broader social nuance.
- make love — romantic, affectionate; opposite vibe to schtup.
- nookie / roll in the hay — playful euphemisms with softer edges.
Real-life examples
- The comedian used “schtup” for a punchline; the magazine edited it to “sleep with.”
- Tabloids alleged the actor was schtupping a costar—sensational and disrespectful.
- She said, “Don’t talk about me like someone to schtup.”
- Editors avoid “schtup” in straight news; it’s slangy and objectifying.
- In casual talk he joked about “schtupping around,” which sounded nasty and judgmental.
Synonyms
have sex, sleep with, hook up, make love, copulate, bed, bang, boink, get intimate
Antonyms
abstinence, celibacy, chastity, platonic relationship, restraint
Related terms
Yiddish slang, vulgar slang, objectification, hookup, nookie, roll in the hay, piece of tail, piece of ass, affair, infidelity, consent, respectful language
Notes and etiquette
Use only for consenting adults and only when a crude or comedic tone is clearly intended (e.g., quoting dialogue). In journalism, academia, and the workplace, choose neutral language such as have sex or sleep with and avoid objectifying phrasing.
Sexopedia.co is an educational glossary of sexual and gender-related terms—helping you improve your English while deepening your understanding of identity, language, and self-expression.