Slang

1. Moin

   Hi (any time of day)

   Usage

   The northern German greeting — Hamburg, Bremen, Schleswig-Holstein — usable at any hour. Doubling it to "Moin Moin" is jokingly called talking too much. Fine with shop staff up north, but it will puzzle the south

2. Servus

   Hi / Bye

   Usage

   The Bavarian and Austrian greeting, used both on meeting and parting, from the Latin for "at your service". For friends and peers — with an older stranger "Grüß Gott" is safer. Not used in northern Germany

3. Na?

   Hey, how's it going?

   Usage

   A single syllable that means "hello, how are you?". Understood across Germany, but only with someone you already know — never with a stranger. You can even answer with "Na?"

4. Alles klar

   All good / Got it

   Usage

   Literally "all clear". Both an agreement and, with a rising tone, a "you OK?". Understood everywhere in Germany and polite enough for staff and friends alike

5. Alter

   Dude

   Usage

   Literally "old one", but used by young people as a vocative and an exclamation of surprise. Only with close friends your own age — with staff or anyone older it is seriously rude. Understood across Germany

6. der Kumpel

   Mate / Buddy

   Usage

   Originally what Ruhr coal miners called a workmate, now general German for a close friend. It is for talking about someone, not for addressing them

7. krass

   Intense / Wow

   Usage

   An intensifier that swings positive or negative — a stunning view or a nasty accident — so tone carries the meaning. For friends your own age, not for work. Understood across Germany

8. mega

   Mega / Super

   Usage

   Goes in front of an adjective: "mega lecker" — seriously tasty. Youth slang but harmless, and a cook is glad to hear it

9. Der Hammer!

   Awesome!

   Usage

   Literally "the hammer": "das ist der Hammer!" means "that is outstanding". It only praises, so it never causes offence. Understood across Germany

10. abgefahren

    Wild / Far out

    Usage

    Literally "driven off". Admiration for something wild or overwhelming — good for art and gigs. Casual but not impolite

11. chillen

    To chill

    Usage

    From English "chill" — hanging out with no plan. Standard among young Germans everywhere. With someone older, say "sich entspannen"

12. abhängen

    To hang out

    Usage

    A calque of English "hang out". For inviting someone your own age; at work say "sich treffen" instead

13. quatschen

    To chat

    Usage

    Rambling, easy conversation. Warm and used at any age across Germany: "wir haben lange gequatscht" — we talked for ages

14. Quatsch!

    Nonsense!

    Usage

    A light "nonsense" — also the way to wave off someone's self-deprecation. Not an insult, but do not use it to contradict someone senior

15. Bock haben

    To be up for it

    Usage

    "Ich habe Bock auf Pizza" — I fancy a pizza. "Bock" literally means a billy goat. To decline, "ich habe keinen Bock". For friends your own age; at work say "ich hätte Lust"

16. die Kohle

    Cash / Dough

    Usage

    Literally "coal", from the Ruhr mining past. Fine when splitting a bill with friends, but say "das Geld" at a bank. Understood across Germany

17. die Klamotten

    Clothes / Gear

    Usage

    Casual German for clothes: "ich muss noch Klamotten kaufen". Fine with friends; in a shop say "die Kleidung"

18. Feierabend

    End of the working day

    Usage

    Literally "celebration evening" — the free time after work, and a cornerstone of German working culture. "Schönen Feierabend!" is what you say to anyone clocking off, colleague or shop assistant. The drink afterwards is a "Feierabendbier"

19. das Fernweh

    Longing for far-off places

    Usage

    Literally "far ache", the counterpart of homesickness — an aching pull toward places you have not yet seen. One of German's famous untranslatables, and a guaranteed conversation-starter about travel. Safe with anyone

20. die Schnapsidee

    A daft idea

    Usage

    Literally "schnapps idea" — the sort of plan that only sounds good after a drink. Safe as a joke about your own idea; aimed at someone else's it is a criticism

21. Das ist mir Wurst

    I don't mind either way

    Usage

    Literally "that is sausage to me" — a very German way of saying you have no preference. Fine for leaving a choice to someone, but as a reply to a proposal it sounds dismissive, so keep it between friends

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