Spending a little time learning colloquial language is one of the best things you can do to become fluent in a language. Everyday colloquial lingo allows you to develop more personal relationships with the locals, which means you’ll be more motivated to learn and you’ll have loads more fun with the language. If you’ve studied any German, but feel your German could use a kick in the pants then cool German slang words can revive your enthusiasm and motivation for German. German slang is incredibly fun and the sooner you start using it, the better!
German slang for everyday: It’s a fact that even if you are familiar with the German language basics, if you don’t know German slang phrases you will be lost in many casual German conversations. Ordinary Germans use plenty of colorful slang expressions when sharing day-to-day experiences, chatting over a coffee at work or over a beer at the local bar. German slang is an essential part of everyday German conversation that strangely is often overlooked by German learners.
German slang for a laugh: Believe it or not, it’s not just the English who know how to have a laugh. Although the Germans are not known for their humour, perhaps surprisingly the German language is full of it. To understand many German jokes you’ll first have to get a handle on German slang phrases and colloquial terms. A knowledge of German slang phrases is vital to be able to read between the lines and understand amusing and often cheeky German comments.
German slang for down to earth: Using German slang is a great way to demonstrate that you’re down to earth and don’t take yourself too seriously. That’s why slang will help you meet and integrate with other down to earth people. Learn German slang and you will familiarise yourself with how truck drivers, bakers, computer hackers, sports fans, motor bikers, soldiers and all sorts of ordinary (and not quite so ordinary) people talk – especially when they’re our for a few beers.
German slang for integration: German slang phrases are especially useful for exploring the German “scene” so if you don’t speak the lingo, you are sure to miss out on loads of fun experiences in Germany. Also as some German slang is only familiar to certain age groups or members of a scene, knowledge of this kind slang can help German learners to integrate better and make like minded German friends.
German slang for color: As the Michael Jackson proclaimed “It don’t matter if you’re black or white!” German slang phrases are not necessarily offensive, abusive, low or vulgar language. Instead German slang is the colorful alternative language spoken by people who want to stand out from the dull masses. You can be black, white, yellow, red… but just don’t be grey!
German slang for irony and exaggeration: Like in English, Germans often convert originally negative words to a positive sense in order to emphasize or intensify, as in “terribly good” or “awfully nice”. Youth slang is more concerned with being intense in order to push the language beyond its limits. Youth slang makes use of a whole series intensifiers, such as galaktisch-, giga-, hyper-, maxi-, mega-, ober-, super-, turbo-, ultra-, and more.
German slang for regional: While a lot of German slang phrases are understood all across Germany, there are also a lot of German regional slang expressions. This learn German slang podcast focuses on the most popular and useful German slang terms. Also, although there is much similarity between the slang spoken in different German speaking countries, there are also differences between the German slang spoken in Germany, Swiss German slang and Austrian German slang. Switzerland and Austria have many of their own slang phrases, terms and expressions – just like the English slang in Great Britain differs from the English in America. So use slang to your advantage to develop a real connection to the local German speaking people.
