How do you say “The pot calling the kettle black” in German?
The closest natural German equivalent is Ein Esel schimpft den anderen Langohr, which literally means “One donkey calls the other long-ear”. English speakers use the pot calling the kettle black to mean criticising someone for a fault you also have. A proverbial German equivalent about two people sharing the same fault. It sounds more like a saying than a casual aside. Register: informal. Usage frequency: occasional.
Closest natural German
Ein Esel schimpft den anderen Langohr
/aɪn ˈeːzl̩ ʃɪmpft deːn ˈandərən ˈlaŋoːɐ̯/
- Literal meaning
- “One donkey calls the other long-ear”
- Register
- informal
- How often it's used
- occasional
- Equivalence
Close equivalent
89 out of 100
What a native German speaker would actually say
Both donkeys have long ears, so the insult applies equally to the speaker. The German saying makes the same point about hypocrisy as the English.
It can sound pointed when addressed to someone directly. In a quiet disagreement, saying that the criticism applies to both of you may be kinder.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone4 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity2 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
In context
English
He calls me untidy, but his room is worse. That's the pot calling the kettle black.
German
Er nennt mich unordentlich, aber sein Zimmer ist schlimmer. Da schimpft ein Esel den anderen Langohr.
English
You say I interrupt? That's the pot calling the kettle black.
German
Du sagst, ich unterbreche andere? Da schimpft ein Esel den anderen Langohr.
Related expressions
Last updated 2026-10-01