To be truly integrated in Vienna there are certain terms no dictionary or Deutschkurs will properly explain. But you’re no stranger, so here’s this month’s cheat sheet.

SCHIACH

[ʃiːɐ̯ç]

adjective. Ugly, unattractive, aesthetically displeasing. Has expanded over the years into a catchall descriptor for anything unpleasant: Previously used mostly in reference to people, clothes, contemporary art and modern architecture, nowadays situations, moods, accidents, hangovers, someone’s behavior, political ideologies and much more can be schiach. This makes the word extremely useful in Viennese, and almost as utilitarian as heast (yo) and Oida (dude).