German Slang

What “the street” can teach you outside of your course book

July 30, 2025
By Tim Lorenz

Introduction

Are you learning German and finding that your textbook just doesn’t quite prepare you for real-life conversations? Want to understand what young Germans are actually saying on the street, in cafes, or on social media? Then you’ve landed on the right page! German slang is the vibrant, ever-evolving heartbeat of the language, and mastering it is key to truly sounding like a native.

Language is alive, and hardly any part of it changes as quickly and creatively as slang. A lot has happened in German in recent years: new terms are being invented, meanings are changing, and cultural influences are shaping the language of (young) people. In this article, you’ll get an overview of popular German slang terms, their backgrounds – and why it’s worth knowing them.

What is German slang?

Slang is colloquial, creative, and often influenced by different parts of (sub)culture, such as music, movies, or nowadays, also memes. Slang is also often closely linked to youth language.

Unlike standard language, it is more casual and changes more quickly. It can even vary from region to region due to different dialects – hip terms in Berlin may be completely unknown in Munich. Slang in Austria or even Switzerland is completely different from slang in Germany.

German slang is almost exclusively used in informal contexts, so it is most commonly used outside of work while engaging in leisure activities with your new or soon-to-be German friends. If you want to join in the conversation, you have to keep learning – but don’t worry, our (street) smart teachers at Tobian Language School can help you with that!

Why should you know German slang?

Of course, you don’t have to use every expression, but some terms are so widespread that you should understand them – especially in everyday conversations outside of school or work.

Otherwise, you run the risk of coming across as a bit spießig (stiff = old-fashioned and uptight). And also let’s be honest: no one wants to constantly ask what was just said when hanging out with friends.

After all, you study a language for the job AND to be able to fully enjoy your free time in the new country. Slang helps you survive in the jungle of the latter. At Tobian Language School, our courses aren’t just about grammar; they’re about equipping you with the confidence to navigate real-life German conversations.

Our native-speaking tutors are fully clued up on the latest slang, ensuring you learn not just what to say, but how to say it naturally.

Common German Slang Words You'll Hear Everywhere

You will probably hear and read these terms repeatedly in conversations and text messages:

Geil – Nowadays mostly positive: Der Film ist geil! = The film is awesome! (Attention: “geil” can have sexual connotations too!)
Bock haben – To feel like doing or having something: Ich habe Bock auf Pizza. = I want to eat Pizza.
Krass – Expression of astonishment: Krass, wie heiß es heute ist. = Crazy, how hot it is today.
Ey – exclamation to get attention: Ey, was geht? = Yo, what’s up?
Alter – means “age” but in slang it can mean a form of address to friends like “dude”, “bro”, “homie”, “man”, “pal”, “mate” etc. (Ey Alter wie war dein Wochenende? = Yo mate, how was your weekend?) or an expression of surprise: Alter, das ist unmöglich! = Bro, that’s impossible!
Dicka / Digga(h) (the pronunciation depends on the city/region you are in) – originally means a large person but is now a friendly form of address, especially between people who identify as male: Was geht Dicka? = What’s up, homeboy?
Bro – Similar to Digga, but more ironic or emotional
Hammer – Used to convince a nail to get into wood but also as a synonym for ‘very good’: Das Konzert war der Hammer = The concert was awesome!
Chillen – Relax: Lass uns heute einfach nur chillen. = Let’s just chill/hang out today.

'Jein' – Between Yes and No

Sometimes a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ is not enough.

For such cases, German has the wonderful word “Jein”. It means exactly what you think: a mixture of yes (ja) and no (nein).

Incidentally, it was made famous by the Hamburg hip-hop band Fettes Brot with their song ‘Jein’.

The Melting Pot: Multicultural Influences on German Slang

Today’s youth in Germany often speak with multicultural influences.

This is because many new words have entered German slang through the Turkish and Arabic communities:

Lan – from Turkish, similar in meaning to ‘dude’ or ‘man’
Wallah – in English, ‘I swear’, also used to emphasise something that has been said
Yallah – ‘Come on!’ or ‘Get going!’
Habibi – Arabic for “darling” or ‘friend’

…and a lot of swear words whose use we don’t recommend. Even terms such as Digga or Bruder originally come from here and have been adopted by all young people.

English also has a huge influence on German slang. Sometimes expressions are taken 1:1 in their writing and meaning (e.g. “lit”, “bro” or “cringe”) and some other times they get germanised (e.g. “chillen”, “crashen” or “gevibet”).

The streams through which English slang words and expressions enter the German language are, just as in many other languages, countless and beyond the classic sources of music and Hollywood. Gaming, streaming and social media speed up the pace at which new expressions and words are formed.

'Cool' Remains Cool

Some words have had a firm place in our language for ages – ‘cool’ is one such term.

Although it originally comes from English, it is now so deeply rooted in German that all age groups understand and use it.

Is it still cool to say cool if your parents also say cool?

Youth Word of the Year: What's Trending in German Slang?

Every year, Langenscheidt, the publisher of the Duden (the official dictionary of the German language) selects the Youth Word of the Year, which represents an interesting snapshot of current language trends.

2024: Aura – a person’s special charisma or ‘vibe’

Here you can have a listening example of the top 10 from 2023 presented by one of the main moderators of the first German television (ARD). The words show how inventive young people are – and how strongly pop culture, social media and international influences shape language.

Conclusion: Slang Means Understanding Culture

Casual colloquial language (slang) can be more than just talking loosely.

It is relevant, it creates a sense of belonging, it conveys identity. Those who struggle less with German slang not only understand the language better, but also the people who speak it.

So: Don’t worry about it, don’t be so spießig, and go for it if you feel like you need to take German less seriously for a change.

Our dynamic team of young and Hammer-German teachers at Tobian Language School are waiting to make your German skills krass gut and ensure you have an absolute blast along the way.

Why not take the plunge? Discover your perfect German course with Tobian Language School today and start speaking like a local!