When learning how to speak German, mastering grammar and vocabulary rules is just one part of the equation. If you truly want to sound “local” (like a native speaker), then understanding German slang, or Slangausdrücke, and knowing when to use it socially is a game changer. Whether you’re exploring the rich city life of Germany or want to understand what your favorite German influencer is saying, familiarizing yourself with a few well-placed slang words can make all the difference. You can learn what these words mean and how to use them effectively, ensuring you avoid potential faux pas while sounding more like a local.
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When to use German Slang
German slang is a part of Umgangssprache, meaning general casual conversation used in Germany. To this end, it’s important to remember that the German language has a formal and informal register. You’ll only want to use German slang terms in the same way that you would only use the informal language. This means you can use it with friends, family, loved ones, children, teens, and those younger than yourself.
When the situation calls for more formality, such as in a professional environment or speaking to a stranger or an adult older than yourself, it’s important in German culture to use formal language. In this situation, using Slangausdrücke (slang expressions) can make you appear crass and unprofessional. A great social cue to help you know when to use German slang is if you feel that it’s more appropriate to use the informal du (you) to address someone, rather than the formal Sie (you).
Alter and other popular slangs in German
This chart highlights some of the most popular slangs in German that will help make your German sound more natural to native speakers in Umgangssprache (casual conversation):
| German Slang | English Meaning |
| Ab in die Kneipe! | Off to the bar/pub! |
| abgehen | to party hard |
| abklatschen | to high-five someone |
| Alter! | Dude! |
| Bombe! | Awesome! |
| brettern | to speed in a vehicle |
| Brudi | bro |
| chill mal | relax |
| Echt jetzt? | Really now? |
| Ehrenmann/Ehrenfrau | legend (literally, honorable man/woman) |
| ein Kater haben | to have a hangover |
| Feierabend | a celebratory evening or an evening off work |
| flexen | to show off |
| Fopperei | practical joke |
| Fresskoma | food coma |
| futtern | to eat a lot |
| Geil! | Cool! |
| Gelaber | gibberish |
| Happa-Happa | baby talk for “food” |
| kein ding | no problem |
| Kippen | cigarettes |
| Kohle | money (similar to “bucks” or “quid”) |
| Krass! | Unbelievable! |
| Läuft bei dir! | You’re on a roll! |
| Mahlzeit! | a greeting, used around lunchtime (often used between coworkers) |
| Mega! | Super cool! |
| Na sicher! | Of course! |
| passt schon | it’s fine |
| quatsch | nonsense |
| reißaus nehmen | to flee |
| safe | definitely |
| Sammel | bread roll/bun |
| Sauber! | Nice one! |
| Schau’n wir mal. | Let’s see. |
| Schoki | chocolate |
| Schon okay. | It’s ok. |
| Schwerenöter | lady’s man |
| sich volllaufen lassen | to get drunk |
| Top! | Great! |
| verpeilt | mentally zoned out |
| zocken | to gamble |
Slang ways to say “what’s up” in German
Check in with your friends and start casual conversations with these 22 slang ways to say “what’s up” in German shown in the chart below:
| German Slang Phrase | English Meaning |
| Alles fresh? | Everything fresh? |
| Alles roger? | Everything ok? |
| Chillig? | Everything chill? |
| Hey, was abgeht? | Hey, what’s happening? |
| Na du Nase? | What’s up, you goof? |
| Na, wie läuft der Hase? | Hey, how’s the rabbit running? |
| Na? | Well? |
| Was geht steil? | What’s going steeply? |
| Was geht? | What goes? |
| Was gibt’s Neues? | What’s new? |
| Was ist im Busch? | What’s in the bush? |
| Was ist los? | What’s going on? |
| Was knallt? | What’s banging? |
| Was läuft? | What’s running? |
| Was liegt an? | What’s going on? |
| Was machst’n? | What are you doing? |
| Was poppt? | What’s popping? |
| Was treibst du? | What are you up to? |
| Was’ los, Alter? | What’s up, dude? |
| Wie geht’s? | How’s it going? |
| Wie steht’s? | How’s it standing? |
| Yo, alles fit? | Yo, everything good? |
Funny German slang phrases
Use idioms to humorously convey your meaning with the 10 German slang phrases in this chart:
| German Slang Phrase | Literal English Translation | Meaning |
| Alles für die Katz’! | All for the cat! | making a grand effort to no avail |
| Da steppt der Bär. | The bear is dancing there. | It’s lively there. |
| Den Vogel abschießen. | Shoot down the bird. | to outdo oneself |
| Der hat doch nicht alle Tassen im Schrank! | He doesn’t have all the cups in his cupboard! | He’s crazy. |
| Die Kirche im Dorf lassen. | Leave the church in the village. | Don’t get carried away. |
| Durch die Blume sagen. | Saying it with flowers. | to say something subtly |
| Eselsbrücken bauen | Build a donkey bridge. | to create a mnemonic device |
| Fix und fertig. | Fixed and done. | completely exhausted |
| Hals- und Beinbruch. | break neck and leg | good luck (similar to “break a leg” in English) |
| Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof. | I only understand “train station.” | I am confused by your speech. |
| Ins Gras beißen. | biting the grass | to pass away |
| Kein Schwein war da. | No pig was there. | No one showed up. |
| Quatsch mit Soße | nonsense with sauce | exaggerates the nonsense someone says |
| Tomaten auf den Augen haben. | to have tomatoes in your eyes | not noticing something obvious |
| Um den heißen Brei herumreden. | to talk around the hot porridge | talking about unimportant things to avoid what’s important |
German slang and acronyms for digital and social media
Whether you’re commenting, posting, or scrolling, these German slang terms and acronyms are essential for sounding like a native online:
| German Slang | English Meaning |
| anfixen | to get hooked (on content, trends, etc.) |
| Aso! (Ach so!) | Oh, I see! |
| Bd (bis dann) | see you later |
| deabo | unsubscribe |
| Fitte | fitness enthusiast/influencer |
| Gg (gut gelaufen) | well played (used in gaming) |
| glotzen | to binge-watch |
| HdGDL (Hab dich ganz doll lieb) | I like you a lot |
| KA (keine Ahnung) | no idea |
| KB (kein Bock) | no desire/interest |
| KP (kein Problem) | no problem |
| likegeil | obsessed with likes |
| liken | to like (a post or comment) |
| Lol | laugh out loud (taken from English) |
| Memer | someone who makes or shares memes |
| posten | to post |
| selfie machen | to take a selfie |
| simsen | to text |
| stalken | to stalk someone online |
Spacko and other playful German slang insults
These expressions are widely recognized but can be offensive or outdated if used in the wrong tone or setting. Always gauge your audience before using them!
| German Slang | English meaning |
| Assi (asozial) | someone who is behaving rude or trashy (asocial) |
| bescheuert | stupid/crazy |
| Dödel | fool |
| Doofkopf | dummy |
| Faulenzer | a lazy person |
| Fies | describes a mean/nasty action |
| Fraulein | young woman (outdated) |
| Grünschnabel | inexperienced person |
| Klugscheißer | know-it-all |
| Labertasche | blabbermouth |
| Naseweiß | smart aleck |
| Oberlehrer | bossy person |
| Quatschkopf | nonsense-talker |
| Sackgesicht | ugly person (literally, bag face) |
| Saftschubse | flight attendant (outdated term now considered offensive) |
| Spacko | weirdo |
| Sparfuchs | cheapskate (literally, saving fox) |
| Sprachgenie | sarcastic term for bad speakers (literally, language genius) |
| Stinkstiefel | grump |
| Trantüte | slowpoke |
| Warmduscher | wimp (literally, warm showerer) |
| Zicke | drama queen |
Understanding apostrophes in German slang
In German, apostrophes are typically used sparingly in formal writing. They are primarily used to show possession with proper names ending in “-s,” “-z,” or “-x” as in Max’ Auto (Max’s car). You may also encounter apostrophes in contractions like wie’s (how it is), which is short for wie es, although this is much more common in informal and slang writing.
This practice has been adopted only recently, borrowed from the English use of apostrophes. However, this usage is not universally embraced in German and is often considered informal or even incorrect by German linguistic purists.
German slang, on the other hand, frequently uses apostrophes to imitate natural speech patterns. For example, ‘n can replace entire words like ein or einen (both meaning “one”). Similarly, apostrophes often replace omitted letters in verbs and prepositions, like Ich geh’ (I go) instead of Ich gehe or auf’m (from the), short for auf dem. These contractions save time and reflect the colloquial nature of Umgangssprache (casual German conversation).
When you read a German word with an apostrophe, chances are that word is likely slang and should only be used in informal communication. Some examples of apostrophes in German slang include:
- ’s gibt Kuchen! = There’s cake!
- Ich hab’ = I have
- Geh’n wir? = Are we going?
- Haste ‘ne Idee? = Do you have an idea?
- Auf’m Tisch. = On the table.
Tips for picking up more German slang
Language is a constantly evolving construct, meaning you’ll likely encounter new slang German words or phrases as you engage with German locals. Your best friend when attempting to understand a new slang term, as is the case in any level of language acquisition, is context.
Did something cool happen and everyone exclaimed a new German slang word you’re not familiar with? Considering what’s happening in the situation around common German phrases is a great way to understand what that new word might be getting at!
Otherwise, nothing beats going to the source of the knowledge. If you make a friend with a native German speaker or join an online language exchange community, you’ll have an excellent cultural resource to directly ask about the meaning of a word. You can use these cultural resources to go beyond the textbooks and get a first-hand account of the meaning behind any tricky German slang terms.
Some additional tips for picking up more German slang include:
- Watch German TV and movies
- Listen to German podcasts
- Follow German social media trends and accounts
- Keep a slang notebook
- Listen to German rap, hip-hop, and pop:
- Follow trending hashtags on social media
- Focus on youth culture and interests
Learn German slang with Rosetta Stone’s immersive training
Incorporating German slang into your vocabulary isn’t just about learning words—it’s about understanding the cultural pulse of the language and sounding like a true local. That’s where Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion method comes in. By focusing on real-world context and interactive learning, it’s designed to take your language skills beyond the textbook.
You’ll not only build a solid foundation in grammar and vocabulary but also gain the confidence to use expressions like a native, including slang. With tools that adapt to your progress and encourage practical communication, Rosetta Stone helps you learn German as it’s spoken today—slang and all.
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