Sound Like a Native: Learn German Slang with Audio

In order to properly speak German like a native, you need to know not just the basic vocabulary, but also idiomatic expressions and slang words. After all, slang words and phrases in German are often untranslatable into English, so it can be easy to misuse or misunderstand them.

So, in order to understand the context in which Germans use slang, you need to be familiar with common expressions and their meanings. Fortunately, this is not a daunting task – learning German slang words can be fun. Some of the expressions can be amusing and funny, which makes them even easier to remember.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most commonly used slang words and phrases in the German language. Read on, familiarize yourself with this interesting part of the German vocabulary – and have fun.

10 Everyday German Slang Words

Before we go to the long vocabulary lists, let’s discuss the ten words that native German speakers use most often. Knowing these will already help you boost your language skills and communicate more freely when visiting a German-speaking country.

Here they are:

Alter!

Alter is a German word that can be translated as “old man”. It actually comes from a longer term, “Alter Schwede” which translates to “old Swedish man” – but it’s mostly used in the form of the English colloquial “man,” “mate, or “dude.”

This word can be used in a variety of ways You can use it to greet someone, approach a friend, express surprise or disbelief in something, or to add effect to what you’re saying. For example:

Assi

The closest English alternative to this German slang word would be “trashy” or “chavvy.” In German, it is short for “antisocial” and can be used both to talk about people and things.

When used with people, it is an insult used to show that someone is unemployed, uneducated, and without manners. When used with things, on the other hand, it shows that something is of poor quality or is undesirable. Remember that this word has a pretty negative meaning, so be careful when using it.

Moin

This is a phrase that you might have already come across when learning German – either in our blog post about German greetings, or in a language class. This is a shortened form of the phrase “Guten Morgen” (good morning), used mostly in Northern Germany.

Today, many people use it regardless of the time of the day, when saying hello to a group of people, or even in informal emails.

Irre

You can translate this as “crazy,” “messed up,” or “nuts.” You might hear it a lot in Germany – people use it to describe both things and people.

Irre can be used both in negative and positive connotations, just like the English word “crazy.”

Krass

Krass in German is used to emphasize the intensity of an event or situation. You can say it to express how unbelievable, surprising, or extreme something is. Basically, people use this word to describe almost anything, whether good or bad.

A funny thing about this word is how you can use the same word to reply in two different ways.

Sometimes, understanding what exactly krass means can be challenging – to figure that out, look at the words surrounding it and the context of the sentence.

Quatsch

This is one of the least formal words on our list. It literally translates to “rubbish” or “junk,” and people use it when they think that what another person just said is nonsense. You may have already seen it in our article about German swear words.

Na?

This word is similar to the English “well?” or “so?” and is the shortest way of greeting someone or asking how they are doing. If you ever meet a German who says “Na?” to you and then continues staring, know that the best response would be telling how you are.

Na? can be combined with other helpful greeting phrases or words, such as:

Chillen

This funny word is basically the German equivalent for the English verb “chilling.” Just like the English slang words, it’s used to talk about the act of relaxing and doing nothing in particular, usually with friends or family.

German also has a similar sounding adjective, chillig, which is used to describe the relaxing atmosphere.

Jein

This is a very popular word in Germany, and it doesn’t have a proper English translation. It is basically a combination of the two German words ja and nein used when someone can’t decide whether they want to say “yes” or “no” to something. In English, we might say “yes, but” or “no, but,” or maybe even “yeah, no,” depending on the situation.

Bock Haben

This German slang phrase literally means “to have a goat,” but it is actually translated as “to be in the mood for something.”

You use it either in a negative or affirmative sentence to show your inclination or disinclination for doing something. If you’re completely against something, you can even say that you have “null Bock.”

If you answered “yes” to the last question, let’s dive deeper into the topic:

Other Popular German Slang Words

If ten words are not enough (and if you want to communicate with the German speakers fluently, they are not), it’s time to learn some other slang words. Here they are:

Unusual but Common German Slang Phrases

While knowing German slang words can be helpful for many language learners, it often can be easy to misunderstand them when used outside or in a phrase. After all, literal translation can differ quite a lot from the real meaning of a sentence. So here are the most common and unusual colloquial expressions used in the German language.

Check them out and enjoy:

Regional German Expressions and Words

Finally, let’s tackle the topic of the German regional slang expressions and words. It’s a common joke that a German speaker from one part of Germany can’t often understand someone from another part of the country – simply because the language differs so much.

So here are the most common regional phrases that should help you communicate with German native speakers depending on the country or city you’re visiting.

German Slang – a Path to German Culture

Though it may be challenging to learn German slang at first, it is a fun and easy way to get closer to the culture of Germany. By understanding how Germans speak informally, you can not only communicate better with them, but also learn more about their unique culture and quirks through their expressions.

So go out there and start using some of these funny phrases – and when you use them in spoken language, native speakers will certainly appreciate the effort. Don’t know how to do that? Consider practicing with Langster, where you can get to learn new vocabulary in context by reading short stories and news from all over the world.