“Alda” & More Cool German Slang Words To Learn

If you’re out in any town in Germany feeling lonely and cold, all you have to do is find a shaded spot at a park and start people-watching. Then, you can see what people do best and hear their fun and interesting conversations.

Now, that’s a very German thing to do. Hah. Just kidding. Listening to private conversations in Germany is not nice, so try not to snoop around and listen to private talks.

However, there is something wonderful about conversations and the words people use, especially in German. Sometimes, these conversations use code words or slang terms. In a way, these conversations hold the golden key to a world of German stories you’ve never heard before. But these wouldn’t be inherently German without the use of slang words.

Well, here’s a mini glossary of German slang for you:

• Nonsense: Quatsch (kwusch)
• Is everything okay: Alles klar? (ah-les kluhr)
• Idiot: Horst (horst)
• What’s up: Alles fit? (ah-les fit)
• Loser: Lusche (loh-scheh)
• Rich showoff: Bonze (bon-zeh)
• Money: Kohle (koh-leh)
• Know-it-all: Besserwisser (bes-ser-fis-ser)
• Cute: putzig (put-zik)
• To chill: chillen
• Cheeky: kess
• Hello: hallöchen (ha-lo-schen)
• Yes and no: jein (yein)
• No / Hey: nee / na
• Wicked: abgefahren (ab-geh-fah-ren)
• Great / Cool: klasse / geil (gayl)
• No way: Auf keinsten (awf kayn-sten)
• Take care: Mach’s gut
• Dude / Mate: Alter / Alda / Digga
• Awesome: Eins A (ayns ah)
• Get lost: hau ab