Definition and pronunciation

shtupp (also spelled schtup, shtup) — verb, vulgar slang: to have sex (often transitive: to shtupp someone; sometimes intransitive: they shtupped). Also a noun in informal use: a quick shtupp (a brief sexual encounter).
Pronounced /ʃtʊp/ (“shtoop,” short u like book) or /ʃtuːp/.

Easy explanation

Shtupp is a rude, joke-leaning word that means to have sex. You’ll hear it in American English with a Yiddish flavor, especially in comedy. Because it can sound demeaning, use it carefully and only about consenting adults.

Part of speech and grammar

• Verb (regular): shtupp – shtupped – shtupped – shtupping.
• Transitivity: usually transitive (shtupp someone), sometimes intransitive (they shtupped).
• Noun (informal): a shtupp = one sexual encounter; shtupper (comic/jocular agent noun).
• Determinants/quantifiers: a quick shtupp; no shtupping; some shtupping (informal).

Register and tone

Vulgar, comic, and culturally marked (Yiddish-influenced American slang). It can objectify people if used about a person rather than mutual activity. Avoid in professional or formal contexts.

Connection to sexuality

Yes. In contemporary English shtupp almost always refers to sex. A historical Yiddish sense “to stuff/push” survives mainly in wordplay, not in everyday English.

Common collocations

• shtupp someone
• have a shtupp
• shtupping around (implies promiscuity; judgmental)
• a quick shtupp, a secret shtupp, shtupp on the side (affair; disapproving)

Idioms and set phrases

• get shtupped — crude passive; demeaning; best avoided.
• shtupping around — sleeping around; negative tone.
• shtupp on the side — extramarital/hidden sex.

Prepositions and nuance

• shtupp [someone] — direct object is standard: He boasted he shtupped a costar (crude).
• shtupp with [someone] — names a partner: They were shtupping with each other (still crude).
• shtupp on the side — implies secrecy or infidelity.
• shtupp around — suggests multiple partners, with moral judgment.
• for a shtupp — frames motive: He only texted for a shtupp (derogatory).

Word comparisons

• have sex / sleep with / be intimate — neutral or polite alternatives.
• hook up — casual encounter; less crude than shtupp.
• bang / boink — similarly crude slang; bang harsher, boink cartoonish.
• make love — romantic/affectionate tone; opposite vibe to shtupp.
• nookie / roll in the hay — playful euphemisms; softer register.

Real-life examples

• The sitcom used “shtupp” for a punchline; the network changed it to “sleep with.”
• Tabloids claimed the actor was shtupping a costar—sensational and disrespectful.
• She said, “Don’t talk about me like someone to shtupp.”
• In news writing, editors avoid “shtupp” because it’s vulgar and objectifying.
• Friends joked about “shtupping 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 like 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.