If you’re planning a vacation in Germany, and would like to learn a few phrases typical of Goethe’s language, we’ve put together 10 expressions of German slang for you!
Whether you’re completely new to the Germanic language or have a thorough grounding in school, it’s always useful to learn a few local expressions to perfect your understanding of German, to blend in more easily with the culture or simply to be more efficient when explaining or answering a question: on the other side of the Rhine, integration through language and the efforts made by travelers are values appreciated by the locals!
We’ve selected 10 really useful colloquial or slang expressions – in addition to the basics – that will help you get by in a wide variety of situations… and avoid the little pitfalls during your stay!
1. Basic expressions
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« Hallo « : Hello!
« Guten Morgen » / « Guten Abend « : Good morning / Good evening!
« Auf Wiedersehen! « Goodbye !
« Wie geht es Ihnen »: How are you?
« Mir geht es gut » / « Und Sie? »: I’m fine / How are you?
« ja » / « Nein « : Yes / No
« Danke » / « Bitte sher « : Thank you! / You’re welcome!
« Bitte » / « Entschuldigung, … »: Please / Excuse me,…
« Ich habe »: I have…
« Ich heiße »: My name is…
« Sprechen Sie …? »: Do you speak…?
« Englisch » / « Französisch »: English / French
« Wie viel kostet das? »: How much does it cost?
« Zum Stadtzentrum, bitte » / « Zum Bahnhof, bitte » / « Zum Flughafen, bitte »: Downtown please / Railway station please / Airport please
2. Auf keinen Fall
This expression is used to support your disagreement orally; compared to a basic negation such as » nicht« , its use reinforces the idea of refusal or rejection. It’s a simple and very useful expression when you don’t want to do something or go somewhere!
Example:
« Sven will auf keinen Fall Polizist werden »: « Sven doesn’t want to be a policeman under any circumstances ».
3. Kohle
This term is used to refer to money, and is equivalent to our « fric ». Without being vulgar, it is used in a colloquial context and should not be used formally in a business context!
Example:
« Nicht, ich habe keine Kohle »: « It’s not possible, I don’t have a penny ».
4. Geil
Basically, » geil » is used to say that you’re excited… sexually. But today, it’s also used to express euphoria or liking for something, or contentment with someone or something.
Example:
« Das neue Spiel ist geil »: « This new game is so cool ».
5. Was geht ab
This expression, which is widely used in Germany, is used to ask someone how they’re doing, after saying hello. In France, it can be translated as « What’s up? »; once again, this phrase should only be used in the context of a family or friendly exchange!
Example:
« Manuel, was geht ab? » : « Hey Manuel, what’s up? »
6. Sich besaufen
Okay, so it’s a bit of a cliché, but Germany is also the land of beer: you can’t go there without sampling the local specialties… and for those who want to drink without moderation, here’s an expression that’s the equivalent of « getting drunk ».
Example:
« Ich will mich heute aber besaufen »: « Tonight, I’ve decided to get drunk. »
7. Ein heißer Feger
Literally, this expression means « hot broom ». It’s rather strange, but in fact it means a « hottie »: a handsome guy, or a very pretty girl! As you can see, if someone refers to you by it, you’re likely to be going home with someone tonight… Nothing to do with it, but still useful to know: » der Feger« , someone who’s on the move.
Example:
« Ich kenne ein heiße Feger am Schule »: « I know a hottie at school ».
8. Gib Gas
The equivalent of our national « grouille-toi »! Literally, it means « speed up » or « hit the gas », but it’s also used when you want to move someone, or to put pressure on them when you’re in the car or waiting your turn to use the toilet. It’s obviously useful to master the phrase, but let’s not forget that Germans are, by nature, a people in a hurry!
Example:
« Steig in dein Auto und gib Gas! »: « Get in the car and hurry up! ».
9. Ein Karre
While we’re on the subject of cars, it’s impossible not to give pride of place to Germany’s big wheels by introducing you to the term » Karre « : quite simply, a crate, to be used in an informal, colloquial discussion, of course! It’s a term that’s often on the lips of German car enthusiasts, and it’s one that should be put to good use.
Example:
« Ein ganz tolle Karre »: « A great crate ».
10. Mach’s gut
This affectionate phrase could be translated as our « Take care of yourself », and is very commonly used when saying goodbye or farewell at a party, for example; it can also be used to wish a student friend good luck before exams or… a romantic rendezvous! It’s interesting to note that this expression, although not a polite greeting, is not reserved for strictly colloquial use, and can also be used if you don’t know the other person very well.
Example:
« Ich muss los, mach’s gut! »: « I must leave you, au plaisir! ».
11. Kumpel
Essential to know if you’re making friends and going on adventures with them! It’s a bit like our « Mon gars », « Ma cou***e », « Mon poteau »: used in a colloquial setting to express friendly affection for a male friend.
Example:
Vielen Dank an meinen Kumpel Albert »: « A big thank you to my buddy Albert!
How can I learn more German expressions and vocabulary?
Before you leave on your trip, it might be worthwhile for you to learn some of the other German phrases that come up regularly in conversation with locals. Take a look at the following books:
– Learn German – Fast / Easy / Effective
– A different way to learn German