Search results
Some of the most fun German words are slang words. German slang words include words like Pillepalle and Pusemuckel or Klackermatsch and Kladderadatsch, words that are rare and more fun to pronounce than any formal words. Slang words are young and sometimes a little weird, which makes them interesting. Many of them don’t have literal translations.
- 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!
Apr 25, 2023 · 1. Are slang words considered informal language? Yes, slang words are informal and typically used in casual conversations among friends or peers. 2. Can using slang words help me sound more fluent? Absolutely! Using slang words in your conversations can make you sound more like a native speaker and create a more authentic language experience. 3.
Jun 20, 2024 · German Slang #2: Tschüss. Meaning: “Bye.”. Now that you know how to say hello in German slang, it only makes sense to understand how to say goodbye in German slang. “Tschüss” is the most popular and most casual way to say “bye” informally. To kick your slang up a notch, say “tschüss tschüss” (bye bye) or “tschüssi ...
- 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
When Germans drink too much, they typically get a Kater, or “hangover.”. You can even get specific about the type of hangover you have. For instance, when Germans exercise too much, they get Muskelkater or “sore muscles.”. The literal translation is “muscle hangover.”. Example: Er hat einen Whiskey Kater.
3 days ago · Alter – [ˈaltɐ] – Dude/bro. This one is an essential word for any German slang for friend arsenal. It literally means “old man,” but it’s used like “dude” or “bro.”. Great for getting someone’s attention or expressing surprise. Assi – [ˈasi] – Antisocial/trashy.
