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- This expression literally means “to have a steer.” However, in German, this phrase is used to say whether or not you feel like doing something.
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Jun 20, 2024 · These colloquial expressions add color, humor, and authenticity to your conversations, allowing you to connect with locals on a deeper level. So, if you’re preparing to intern abroad or study abroad in Germany, you’ll need to get a handle on some common German slang terms.
- The 14 Most Common German Slang Words
- 50 More German Slang Words
- 17 Common German Slang Expressions You Should Know
- 14 German Text Slang to Say “Ttyl” to Your German-Speaking Friends
1. Na?
Na?might be the shortest way of asking about someone’s wellbeing in any language. It’s a way to say “Hello” and “How are you doing?” at the same time. There’s even a special intonation to it. To be a bit clearer about what you mean, you can combine Na? with other forms of greeting like Na, alles gut? (Well, is everything good?), Na, wie gehts? (Hey, how are you?) or Na, was geht ab? (So, what’s going on?). The best part is that Na? also serves as a reply to itself. Na? – Naaa?is a complete co...
2. chillen
The German verb chillencomes from the English “to chill.” It basically has the same meaning: to hang out, rest and generally take it easy. The word also has an adjective form, chillig , which is mostly used to describe a laidback atmosphere or relaxing surroundings while having a chill night. Interestingly, in German, you often chill in rounds. Eine Runde chillen is an important part of the weekend activities for many younger Germans. Rhea:Wir wollen an den See fahren und eine Runde chillen....
3.Tschüß!
This one means “goodbye,” whether it’s on the phone or in person. You’ll hear it so much that you’d be surprised at just how often it replaces the proper goodbye, Auf Wiedersehen , in daily life. A friend who was visiting me from the States pointed out that when we say Tschüß,we raise the tone of our voices a full octave. There’s even a bit of a singsong melody when you say it. Variants include tschü, tschü-tschü and tschüßi (the i is a common, cutesy diminutive used for all sorts of things)....
You’re bound to encounter these words and expressions while traveling around Germany, speaking with language exchange partners or navigating German etiquette and customs. You’re also sure to run into many of these slang expressions on FluentU.
1. auf dicke Hose machen
Literally, this phrase means, “To act as if you have fat pants.” It’s used to describe someone who is bragging or generally pretending to be better than they really are, especially when it comes to possessing money or wealth. The idea is that your pants get wider due to an abundance of money in your pockets. It’s worth noting that auf dicke Hose machen is frequently used in combination with the accusative in the phrase einen auf dicke Hose machen . However, it’s just as well to use it without...
2. gebongt sein
In German, a Bon (pronounced “bong”) is the receipt you get after making a purchase. Therefore, in common parlance, the verb bongen refers to ringing something up on a register (literally putting something onto a Bon), thereby settling the transaction. If something is gebongt , it means it’s booked, decided or agreed upon. In almost all cases, this phrase is used in the form of ist gebongt to signify that a matter is settled or that you’ve come to an agreement. Peter:Treffen wir uns morgen um...
3. Was geht ab?
Was geht ab? is the German equivalent of “What’s up?” or “What’s happening?” It’s used as a greeting and to inquire about the other person’s well-being in a very informal way. If you’re a teenager, you might also be able to pull off the even shorter Was geht? Anyone nearing thirty should stay away from it, though. Keep in mind that this is a very casual expression. If you can’t pull off “What’s up?” in English, you should probably stay away from the German equivalent as well. The phrase can a...
German isn’t known for its short words. So it’s no surprise that text slang shortens a lot of the language’s most commonly used written words. Here are a few must-know slang terms to learn if you’re planning to communicate with any German speaker via text!
Discover a vast array of fascinating German slang - including some words, phrases, expressions and idioms that you've probably never heard before.
- 10 Most Common German Slang Words. Before we categorize all of these brand-new and already existing German slang words and phrases, let’s take a look at the 10 most common German slang words that’ll give you a head start in sounding like a local or a native speaker.
- German Slang Phrases for German Greetings: Say Hello Like a Native Speaker. The next step is to group all of these known phrases into different categories.
- Learn German Slang Words and Phrases for Saying Cool. Keeping up with the younger generation often involves knowing how to exclaim that something is “cool” or “awesome”.
- Common Longer German Slang Expressions. Despite the standard rules set in language learning resources, real-life dialogues involve a tremendous amount of informal expressions and regional nuances that make German an exciting language to learn.
- Alter! This is one of my favourite German expressions. It can be used to express surprise, informally greet someone or as an interjection. It’s a shortened version of the term, Alter Schwede which translates to “old Swedish man” in English.
- Moin. Moin is the shortening of the phrase, Moien Dag or “good day” in parts of northern Germany. But lots of people have adopted this as a way of saying “Hello!”
- Geil. Geil is a word used to describe anything you feel is cool, tasty or an interesting surprise. But it’s also an odd word because geil technically means, well…”horny”.
- Irre. Irre is used the same way in German as “crazy!” is used in English. It has both good, and bad, connotations depending on how you use it. But mostly it’s used to express bad situations, like
Jan 26, 2024 · “Abklatsch” is a slang term that means “imitation” or “copycat.” It can be used to describe something or someone that is trying to imitate or copy something else, often in a negative way. Example: “Das ist doch nur ein billiger Abklatsch des Originals.” (“That’s just a cheap imitation of the original.”)
In this post, I'll show you how to bring your German sentences to life with words and phrases that only natives use. Stay tuned to the end for an example of one of those slang-only conversations. You'll be ready to start using authentic German slang in no time.
