From Geil to Digga: 15 German Gen Z Slang Words You Need

German Slang 101: Gen Z Edition – 15 Must-Know Phrases to Sound Like a Local

Think you’ve got German figured out with a few “dankes” and “guten Morgens”? Not so fast. German Gen Z has created its own slang universe, full of words and phrases you definitely won’t find in any textbook. From viral TikToks to casual convos on the streets of Berlin, the slang Gen Z uses is fresh, fun, and essential if you want to vibe with the locals.

Ready to dive into the wild world of German Gen Z slang? This guide will walk you through 15 essential slang words that’ll help you keep up with the coolest crowds, whether you're exploring German social media or just hanging out with your German friends. Time to upgrade your language skills and speak like a true Berliner!

1. "Geil"

This is one of the most popular slang words in Germany, especially with Gen Z. Geil originally meant “horny”, but now it’s used to describe anything that's cool, awesome, or amazing.

• Pronunciation: “Guy-l” (rhymes with "mile").
• How to use it: “Das Konzert war richtig geil!” (The concert was really awesome!)
  In short: Use geil to hype up anything you think is super cool.

2. "Läuft bei dir"

This phrase is the German equivalent of saying “you’re killing it” or “you’ve got it going on.” It’s a compliment used when someone’s doing well or something is going smoothly.

• Pronunciation: “Loift by deer”.
• How to use it: “Wow, du hast die Prüfung bestanden? Läuft bei dir!” (Wow, you passed the exam? You’re killing it!)
  In short: Say läuft bei dir to hype up your friends when they’re winning at life.

3. "Cringe"

Just like in English, cringe is used by German Gen Z to describe something awkward, embarrassing, or secondhand embarrassing. It’s super common in online conversations and social media.

• Pronunciation: Same as in English, “krinj”.
• How to use it: “Sein Verhalten war total cringe.” (His behavior was totally cringe.)
  In short: Use cringe when someone or something is painfully awkward.

4. "Ehrenmann/Ehrenfrau"

These words translate to “honor man” and “honor woman” and are used to describe someone who is super kind, helpful, or honorable. It’s like calling someone a total legend for their good deeds.

• Pronunciation: “Eh-ren-man” / “Eh-ren-frau”.
• How to use it: “Danke fürs Helfen, du bist ein Ehrenmann.” (Thanks for helping, you’re a legend.)
  In short: Call someone Ehrenmann or Ehrenfrau when they do something awesome or honorable.

5. "Babo"

Babo means “boss” or “leader”, and it’s used to describe someone who’s in charge or super cool. It became popular from a German rap song, and now it’s a staple in Gen Z slang.

• Pronunciation: “Bah-bo”.
• How to use it: “Er ist der Babo der Gruppe.” (He’s the boss of the group.)
  In short: Use Babo to describe someone who’s the top dog in a situation.

6. "Digger/Digga"

This is a classic word that’s been around for a while and is used like “bro” or “dude.” It’s a super casual, friendly term Gen Z throws around when talking to their friends.

• Pronunciation: “Dig-ah”.
• How to use it: “Was geht, Digger?” (What’s up, bro?)
  In short: Use Digga to keep things casual when talking to your pals.

7. "Wild"

This is a direct import from English, and just like in English, it’s used to describe something crazy or intense. If something unexpected or mind-blowing happens, wild is your go-to word.

• Pronunciation: Same as in English, “vild” (with a soft “v” sound).
• How to use it: “Das war echt wild.” (That was really wild.)
  In short: Drop wild when things get crazy or out of control.

8. "Chillig"

This word comes from the English “chill” and is used to describe something relaxed or laid-back. If someone is super chill or something is going smoothly, it’s chillig.

• Pronunciation: “Chill-ig” (just like “chill” with a German twist).
• How to use it: “Die Party war echt chillig.” (The party was really chill.)
  In short: Use chillig to describe anything that’s low-key and relaxed.

9. "Komm klar"

This phrase means “get it together” or “deal with it.” It’s often used when someone is freaking out or being overly dramatic, and you want them to calm down.

• Pronunciation: “Kom klar” (just like it looks).
• How to use it: “Komm klar, es ist nur ein Test.” (Get it together, it’s just a test.)
  In short: Use komm klar to tell someone to chill and handle a situation.

10. "Auf entspannt"

This phrase is used to describe doing something in a relaxed way or taking it easy. It’s all about keeping things chill and not stressing out.

• Pronunciation: “Owf ent-shpahnt”.
• How to use it: “Lass uns auf entspannt ins Wochenende starten.” (Let’s start the weekend on a relaxed note.)
  In short: Use auf entspannt when you want to take it easy and keep things calm.

11. "Ich schwör’s"

This phrase means “I swear”, and it’s used to emphasize that you're telling the truth or being serious about something. It’s a casual way of adding emphasis to what you’re saying.

• Pronunciation: “Ish shvers”.
• How to use it: “Ich schwör’s, das war das Beste!” (I swear, that was the best!)
  In short: Use ich schwör’s when you want to back up your point and say you’re not joking.

12. "Abgehen"

This word means “to go off” or “go wild.” If a party is lit or someone is really hyped up, you’d say they’re abgehend.

• Pronunciation: “Ab-gehen”.
• How to use it: “Die Party ging richtig ab gestern.” (The party went off last night.)
  In short: Say abgehen when something is wild and high-energy.

13. "Smashen"

This is another borrowed English word, and it means “to smash” or hook up. It’s used in a casual or joking way when talking about dating or partying.

• Pronunciation: “Smah-shen”.
• How to use it: “Die haben auf der Party gesmasht.” (They hooked up at the party.)
  In short: Use smashen when talking about casual hookups.

14. "Lit"

Another import from English, lit is used by German Gen Z to describe something that’s exciting or amazing. If something’s poppin’, it’s lit.

• Pronunciation: Same as in English.
• How to use it: “Das Festival war lit!” (The festival was lit!)
  In short: Use lit for anything that’s hype-worthy.

15. "No front"

This phrase means “no offense” and is used when someone wants to criticize or joke about something but doesn’t want the other person to take it personally.

• Pronunciation: Same as in English.
• How to use it: “No front, aber das war echt schlecht.” (No offense, but that was really bad.)
  In short: Use no front to lightly roast someone without hurting their feelings.

Now that you're loaded with these 15 German Gen Z slang words, you're ready to tackle conversations like a true local. Whether you're calling something geil (awesome), telling a friend läuft bei dir (you’re killing it), or describing a chill hangout as chillig, these phrases will keep you in the loop with the coolest crowds in Germany.

Slang isn't just about words—it's about fitting in with the vibe and culture of the people you’re connecting with. Whether you're chatting with friends, scrolling through TikTok, or hitting up a Berlin party, these slang terms will help you blend right in with German Gen Z. Keep practicing, and soon enough, you’ll be dropping these words like a native!

Stay tuned for more language tips and Gen Z trends right here at Woke Waves Magazine—where global youth culture stays lit. Tschüss!

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