German Slang: 40+ Modern Words and Phrases Young Germans Actually Use
11 min read
Your German textbook taught you "Guten Tag" and "Wie geht es Ihnen?" and that is great for your exam. But step into a Berlin cafe, scroll through German TikTok, or hang out with twenty-somethings in Munich and you will hear a completely different language. Welcome to the wild, colorful world of German slang.
This guide covers 40+ slang words and phrases that real Germans use every day --- grouped by category so you can start dropping them into conversation (at the right moment, of course).
Let us start with the classics. These everyday slang words have been around for years and are understood across all of Germany.
Meaning: Cool, awesome, amazing Example: "Das Konzert war so geil!" (The concert was so awesome!) Usage: Originally a bit risque (it can mean "horny"), geil has become completely mainstream. You will hear grandmothers say it about cake. Totally safe in casual settings.
Meaning: Extreme, intense, crazy (positive or negative) Example: "Krass, du hast die Pruefung bestanden!" (Crazy, you passed the exam!) Usage: One of the most versatile slang words in German. Works for good surprises and bad shocks alike.
Meaning: Dude, man, bro Example: "Alter, was machst du da?" (Dude, what are you doing?) Usage: Used as an interjection at the start of sentences. Alter for guys, sometimes Alte among female friends, though this can sound rude in the wrong context.
Meaning: Awesome, incredible Example: "Das Essen war hammer!" (The food was incredible!) Usage: Always positive. Think of it like saying something "hits" or "slaps" in English.
Meaning: To feel like doing something / to be up for something Example: "Hast du Bock auf Kino?" (Are you up for going to the cinema?) Usage: Keinen Bock means you are not in the mood. Very common in everyday speech.
Meaning: Money, cash Example: "Ich hab keine Kohle mehr." (I have no money left.) Usage: Like saying "dough" or "bread" in English. Casual and widely used.
Meaning: To talk nonsense, to ramble Example: "Laber nicht!" (Stop talking nonsense!) Usage: Slightly dismissive. Use it with friends, not with your boss.
Meaning: To chill, to relax Example: "Wir chillen heute im Park." (We are chilling in the park today.) Usage: Borrowed directly from English, fully adopted into German slang.
Meaning: Bad, lousy, crappy Example: "Das Wetter ist echt mies." (The weather is really lousy.) Usage: Common for complaining about anything. Straightforward negative.
Meaning: Yes and no (a blend of ja + nein) Example: "Magst du Montage?" --- "Jein." Usage: Perfectly captures that German love of precision. When yes or no just will not do.
Meaning: Stupid, ridiculous Example: "Die Idee ist total bescheuert." (The idea is totally ridiculous.) Usage: Stronger than "dumm" but still casual. Great for expressing disbelief.
Meaning: To be fed up Example: "Ich hab die Schnauze voll von diesem Regen!" (I am fed up with this rain!) Usage: Colorful and emphatic. You are not just annoyed --- you are done.
If you want to understand anyone under 25 in Germany, you need these words. Gen Z slang mixes German creativity with heavy English influence.
Meaning: Bro, dude, mate Example: "Digga, das ist nicht dein Ernst!" (Bro, you cannot be serious!) Usage: Originally from Hamburg, Digga has taken over all of Germany. It comes from "Dicker" (fat one) but has zero connection to weight now. Used constantly among friends regardless of gender.
Meaning: A stand-up person, someone honorable (literally: man/woman of honor) Example: "Er hat mir sein letztes Bier gegeben --- Ehrenmann!" (He gave me his last beer --- legend!) Usage: High praise. Jugendwort des Jahres 2018.
Meaning: Suspicious, shady (from English "sus" / Among Us) Example: "Der Typ ist mega sus." (That guy is super sus.) Usage: Borrowed from English gaming culture. Fully integrated into German youth speech.
Meaning: Embarrassing, making you uncomfortable Example: "Das Video ist so cringe." (That video is so cringe.) Usage: Used exactly like in English. Was Jugendwort des Jahres 2021.
Meaning: Expression of amazement or disbelief Example: "Sheesh, die hat echt 100 Punkte!" (Sheesh, she really got 100 points!) Usage: Stretched out for emphasis: "Sheeeeesh!" Peaked around 2021-2022 but still in use.
Meaning: To show off, to flex Example: "Er flext wieder mit seinem neuen Auto." (He is flexing again with his new car.) Usage: From English "to flex." Always slightly mocking.
Meaning: To absolutely nail it, to look amazing Example: "Du slayest heute!" (You are slaying today!) Usage: Adopted from English, often about outfits or performances.
Meaning: Clueless, confused, out of it Example: "Der ist komplett lost." (He is completely lost/clueless.) Usage: Jugendwort des Jahres 2020. Not about physical location --- it is about being mentally elsewhere.
Meaning: To hook up with / would date Example: "Smash or Pass?" (Would you or would you not?) Usage: From the English TikTok trend. Jugendwort des Jahres 2022.
Meaning: A major positive transformation in appearance Example: "Was fuer ein Glow Up!" (What a glow up!) Usage: Jugendwort des Jahres 2023. Used exactly like in English.
Meaning: Someone's vibe or energy (often used humorously with a point system) Example: "Plus 100 Aura fuer diesen Move." (+100 aura for that move.) Usage: Jugendwort des Jahres 2024. Comes from TikTok aura points memes.
Meaning: Slang for a specific youth subculture (young men with designer sportswear, fanny bags) Example: "Die Talahons haengen wieder am Bahnhof." Usage: From Arabic "ta'al lahon" (come here). Controversial --- can be seen as stereotyping. Use carefully.
Meaning: Humorous justification logic Example: "Girlmath: Wenn es im Sale ist, spare ich Geld." (Girlmath: If it is on sale, I am saving money.) Usage: From TikTok trends. Used self-ironically.
Meaning: A sudden turn-off in someone you are dating Example: "Er hat Socken in Sandalen getragen --- sofort ein Ick." (He wore socks in sandals --- instant ick.) Usage: From dating culture on social media.
Germany is not one country when it comes to slang --- it is at least three. Here is a quick regional tour.
Meaning: Hello (any time of day, not just morning) Example: "Moin! Alles klar?" (Hey! All good?) Usage: The north's universal greeting. Hamburg, Bremen, Schleswig-Holstein. Some people say Moin Moin but purists insist one Moin is enough.
Meaning: Hi, hello (shortened from "Guten Tag") Example: "Tach zusammen!" (Hi everyone!) Usage: Casual, friendly, very Ruhrpott.
Meaning: Hello or goodbye Example: "Servus! Wie geht's?" Usage: Works for both greeting and farewell. From Latin "servus" (servant/at your service).
Meaning: Hello (formal-ish) Example: "Grueezi mitenand!" (Hello everyone!) Usage: Standard Swiss German greeting. Will immediately identify you as Swiss (or someone trying to be).
Meaning: Everything alright / All good Example: "Na, allet klar bei dir?" Usage: Classic Berlinerisch. The "a" instead of "al" is peak Berlin dialect.
Meaning: Oh come on / expression of annoyance Example: "Ei Gansen, das kann doch nicht sein!" Usage: Hessian dialect. You will hear this around Frankfurt.
Meaning: Same word, but the -er ending is more Hamburg, -a is more universal youth slang Usage: Regional origin (Hamburg) that went national. A perfect example of how slang travels.
German texting has its own abbreviations. Here is what you will see in WhatsApp groups and social media.
Meaning: Hab dich lieb / Hab dich ganz doll lieb (Love you / Love you lots) Usage: The German "ily." Used since the SMS era and still going strong.
Meaning: Liebe Gruesse (Best regards) Usage: Used to sign off casual emails and messages. The German "xo."
Meaning: Ganz liebe Gruesse (Very warm regards) Usage: A slightly warmer version of LG.
Meaning: Wohngemeinschaft (shared apartment) Example: "Ich suche eine WG in Berlin." Usage: Not exactly slang --- it is an essential abbreviation every German learner needs.
Meaning: Same as English Usage: Germans use "haha" and "lol" exactly like English speakers. No translation needed.
Meaning: Whatever, I don't care Example: "Egal, machen wir morgen." (Whatever, we will do it tomorrow.) Usage: Not just texting --- used constantly in speech too. The ultimate dismissal.
Meaning: No idea Example: "Wann faengt der Film an?" --- "Ka." Usage: Ultra-short texting speak.
Meaning: That is just how it is (short for "ist so") Example: "Montage sind schlimm." --- "Isso." Usage: Agreement with resigned acceptance. Very common.
Every year, the Langenscheidt dictionary publisher runs a public vote for the Jugendwort des Jahres (Youth Word of the Year). Here are the recent winners:
| Year | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Aura | Someone's vibe/energy (with point system) |
| 2023 | Glow Up | Major positive transformation |
| 2022 | Smash | To hook up with someone |
| 2021 | Cringe | Embarrassing, uncomfortable |
| 2020 | Lost | Clueless, confused |
| 2019 | No winner | (Discontinued temporarily) |
| 2018 | Ehrenmann/Ehrenfrau | Honorable person |
| 2017 | I bims | "I am" (ironic misspelling of "Ich bin's") |
Notice a pattern? Many winners are borrowed from English --- which tells you something about the direction German youth culture is heading.
Digga (also spelled Diggah or Digger) deserves its own section because it is arguably the single most popular slang word in Germany right now.
Origin: It comes from Dicker (fat one), a Hamburg dialect term originally used as an affectionate nickname among close friends. Over time the meaning shifted completely away from anything about weight.
Modern meaning: It is the German equivalent of "bro," "dude," or "mate." It can express:
Who uses it: Originally a northern Germany thing, it spread through social media and music (especially German rap) to become universal. People of all genders use it, though it is most common among those under 30.
When NOT to use it: Job interviews. Emails to professors. Talking to your partner's parents for the first time. Basically any situation where you would not say "bro" in English.
Here are a few extra gems:
Reading about slang is one thing --- recognizing it in context is another. Here are some ways to practice:
Play vocabulary games. Our Word Search game lets you hunt for German words in a grid, and Memory Match helps you pair German words with their meanings. Both are great for building recognition speed.
Test yourself with quizzes. Try our vocabulary quizzes to see how well you know common German words, including informal ones.
Watch German content. YouTube, TikTok, and German Netflix shows (Dark, How to Sell Drugs Online Fast) are packed with current slang.
Follow German meme accounts. Instagram and TikTok accounts posting in German will teach you more slang in a week than a textbook does in a year.
Want to build your German vocabulary the fun way? Try our free word games and see how many of these slang words you can spot. Whether you are prepping for life in Germany or just want to understand German rap lyrics, knowing slang is what separates textbook German from real German.
Want more vocabulary tips? Check out our guide to German greetings, the most common German words, tips on how to speak German fluently, and essential German for work vocabulary.