Berlin—Germany’s capital of cool—is known for its cutting-edge art scene, vibrant nightlife, and diverse culture. But if you really want to blend in and capture the spirit of the city, nothing beats speaking like a true Berliner. From spicy street talk to tongue-in-cheek idioms, Berlin’s slang will help you connect with the locals, share a laugh, and navigate the city’s endless quirks with confidence. Below, you’ll discover 100 essential German slang terms that are guaranteed to level up your German, Berliner Schnauze-style!
Why Learn Berliner Slang?
- Cultural Immersion
Whether you’re chilling at a Kreuzberg café or dancing until sunrise in a Neukölln club, Berliner slang shows that you’re in the know. Speaking the local lingo can open doors—sometimes literally, if you’re chatting with a bouncer at one of Berlin’s famed techno clubs. - Authentic Communication
Forget cookie-cutter textbook phrases. Slang is where true connection happens. Using expressions like jwd or ick instantly signals to locals that you’re not just passing through, but genuinely fascinated by Berlin’s cultural tapestry. - Fun Factor
Let’s be honest: slang is fun! Who wouldn’t want to sprinkle their German with quirky phrases that make Sprichst du Deutsch? sound like a first-grade exercise book?
Interesting Fact: According to a 2020 poll by Berlin’s city magazine tipBerlin, 70% of Berliners say that hearing someone attempt local slang makes them “smile or laugh in a good way.” So go for it—Berliners will appreciate your effort!
Quick Tips for Speaking Like a Berliner
- The Berlin “ick”
You’ll notice how many Berliners say ick instead of the High German ich. In casual settings, this is entirely normal. Don’t overthink it—just let the ick roll off your tongue naturally! - Embrace the Humor
Berlin slang can be rough, direct, and dripping with sarcasm. It’s part of the Berliner Schnauze, a term describing that unique, no-nonsense Berlin attitude. Don’t take it personally; it’s more charm than offense. - Listen and Observe
From hanging out in parks like Görlitzer Park or Tempelhofer Feld to riding the U-Bahn, your ears are your best teacher. Listen, repeat, and pick up on the local lilt.
Category 1 – Basic Greetings & Everyday Expressions
Below are 100 curated slang terms grouped into thematic categories. Bookmark this guide and come back to it whenever you want to refresh your memory or impress your Berliner friends!
- Na?
- Meaning: A casual way of saying “Hey, how’s it going?”
- Usage: You’ll hear this constantly, often followed by “Alles klar?”
- Alles paletti?
- Meaning: “Everything good?” / “All good?”
- Usage: A friendly check-in phrase; you might answer with “Alles paletti!”
- Ick
- Meaning: “I” (instead of “ich”)
- Usage: Iconic Berliner dialect. “Ick hab keen Bock” = “I don’t feel like it.”
- Dit
- Meaning: “This/That” (instead of “das/dieses”)
- Usage: “Dit is jut!” = “That’s good!”
- Keene Ahnung
- Meaning: “No idea” (instead of “Keine Ahnung”)
- Usage: “Haste keene Ahnung?” = “You have no idea?”
- Moin
- Meaning: “Hi” (originally from Northern Germany, but Berliners love it too)
- Usage: Works any time of day, ironically or sincerely.
- Tachchen
- Meaning: Cute or ironic form of “Hi there”
- Usage: Often used in a playful or mocking tone to greet friends.
- Allet
- Meaning: “Everything” (instead of “alles”)
- Usage: “Allet klar?” = “Everything good?”
- Zicke
- Meaning: Literally “goat,” used for “drama queen”
- Usage: “Die ist voll die Zicke!” = “She’s such a drama queen!”
- Keen Ding
- Meaning: “No big deal”
- Usage: “Mach dir keene Sorgen, keen Ding!” = “Don’t worry, it’s no big deal!”
Category 2 – People & Relationships
- Alter / Alta
- Meaning: “Dude” or “Man!”—also used as an exclamation (like “Whoa!”)
- Usage: “Alter, das is’ krass!” = “Dude, that’s crazy!”
- Dicker
- Meaning: “Bro,” literally “fatty,” but it’s friendly among buddies
- Usage: “Na Dicker, was geht?” = “Hey bro, what’s up?”
- Kumpel
- Meaning: “Buddy” or “Pal”
- Usage: “Mein Kumpel und ick gehen heute raus.” = “My buddy and I are going out today.”
- Schnalle
- Meaning: “Chick,” can be derogatory, so use with caution
- Usage: “Haste die neue Schnalle von ihm gesehen?” = “Have you seen his new chick?” (slangy)
- Mutti / Vati
- Meaning: “Mom / Dad,” but used ironically for older or parental figures
- Usage: “Ach, da kommt wieder die Mutti mit den Regeln!” = “Oh, here comes mom with the rules again!”
- Späti-Leute
- Meaning: People who frequent or work at Spätis (late-night convenience stores)
- Usage: Berlin’s nightlife revolves around Spätis. Späti-Leute have seen it all!
- Freundchen
- Meaning: Literally “little friend,” used when warning someone
- Usage: “Pass bloß uff, Freundchen!” = “Watch it, pal!”
- Die Olle / Der Oller
- Meaning: Slang for “girlfriend / boyfriend,” can be playful or negative
- Usage: “Wo is’ deine Olle?” = “Where’s your girl?”
- Kiezkinder
- Meaning: “Neighborhood kids,” for locals who grew up in the same Kiez (district)
- Usage: “Wir sind echte Kiezkinder aus Neukölln.” = “We’re true locals from Neukölln.”
- Hipster
- Meaning: Same as English, but loaded with Berlin connotations
- Usage: “Die Hipster hocken in Mitte in den Cafés.” = “The hipsters hang out in cafés in Mitte.”
Category 3 – Food & Drink Slang
- Currywurst
- Meaning: The iconic Berlin fast-food dish (chopped sausage with curry sauce)
- Usage: “Haste Bock auf Currywurst?” = “Feel like a currywurst?”
- Pommes Schranke
- Meaning: Fries with ketchup and mayo, reminiscent of a railroad barrier’s colors
- Usage: “Einmal Pommes Schranke, bitte.” = “One order of fries with ketchup and mayo, please.”
- Döner
- Meaning: A popular Turkish-German kebab
- Usage: Berlin’s #1 street food. “Komm, wir holen uns ’n Döner.”
- Späti-Bier
- Meaning: Beer bought at a Späti (late-night store)
- Usage: “Lass uns noch ’n Späti-Bier holen.” = “Let’s grab a beer from the Späti.”
- Berliner Weiße
- Meaning: A sour beer specialty from Berlin, often served with raspberry or woodruff syrup
- Usage: “Heute Abend trink ick ’ne Berliner Weiße.” = “Tonight I’ll have a Berliner Weiße.”
- Stulle
- Meaning: Sandwich or bread slice with toppings
- Usage: “Ick hab mir ’ne Stulle fürs Büro gemacht.” = “I made myself a sandwich for the office.”
- Haxe
- Meaning: Pork knuckle, typical German dish
- Usage: “Komm, wir essen ’ne Haxe im Brauhaus!” = “Let’s have a pork knuckle at the brewery!”
- Molle
- Meaning: A beer (often Pils) from a small glass or bottle
- Usage: “Ick brauch ’ne Molle!” = “I need a (small) beer!”
- Leitungswasser
- Meaning: Tap water. Not specifically slang, but a very Berlin topic (some prefer to ask for tap rather than buy bottled)
- Usage: “Kann ick ’n Leitungswasser haben?” = “Can I have tap water?”
- Dose
- Meaning: A can of beer or soda
- Usage: “Hol mal ’ne Dose Cola!” = “Get me a can of cola!”
Category 4 – Getting Around & Urban Life
- BVG
- Meaning: Berlin’s public transport company
- Usage: “Mit der BVG kommst du überall hin.” = “You can get everywhere with the BVG.”
- U-Bahn
- Meaning: Berlin’s underground subway system
- Usage: “Ick steig in die U8 ein.” = “I’m hopping on the U8 line.”
- S-Bahn
- Meaning: Berlin’s urban rail (above ground)
- Usage: “Die S-Bahn is heute wieder verspätet…” = “The S-Bahn is late again today…”
- Ringbahn
- Meaning: The circular S-Bahn routes around the center of Berlin (S41, S42)
- Usage: “Tipp: Auf der Ringbahn kannste super Leute beobachten.” = “Pro tip: You can people-watch perfectly on the Ringbahn.”
- Radeln
- Meaning: Slang for “to bike”
- Usage: “Ick radel schnell zum Späti.” = “I’ll bike to the Späti quickly.”
- Muckibude
- Meaning: Gym/fitness studio
- Usage: “Ick geh nachher in die Muckibude.” = “I’m going to the gym later.”
- Parken
- Meaning: Parking, but Berliners often say “park” to chill or hang out
- Usage: “Wir parken heute im Görli.” = “We’re hanging out in Görlitzer Park today.”
- Hinterhof
- Meaning: Courtyard, typical in Berlin’s altbau buildings
- Usage: “Die besten Partys sind manchmal im Hinterhof.” = “The best parties are sometimes in the courtyard.”
- Kiez
- Meaning: Neighborhood, local area
- Usage: “Mein Kiez is’ Kreuzberg.” = “Kreuzberg is my neighborhood.”
- Späti
- Meaning: Late-night convenience store, a Berlin institution
- Usage: “Ohne Späti wär Berlin nicht Berlin.” = “Without Spätis, Berlin wouldn’t be the same.”
Category 5 – Party & Nightlife Slang
- Feiern
- Meaning: “To party”
- Usage: “Lass mal feiern gehen.” = “Let’s go party.”
- Abhotten
- Meaning: “To dance like crazy,” often to techno or house
- Usage: “Wir hotten ab bis in die Morgenstunden.” = “We’ll dance until morning.”
- Durchmachen
- Meaning: “Pull an all-nighter”
- Usage: “In Berlin kannste durchmachen, dann direkt zur Arbeit gehen.” = “In Berlin you can party all night, then go straight to work.”
- Clubben
- Meaning: “Clubbing”
- Usage: “Wohin gehen wir heute clubben?” = “Where are we going clubbing tonight?”
- Afterhour
- Meaning: Party that continues into the morning or next day
- Usage: “Komm, wir gehen noch zur Afterhour in Friedrichshain.” = “Let’s head to an afterparty in Friedrichshain.”
- Line-up
- Meaning: The DJ or music schedule in a club
- Usage: “Das Line-up im Berghain ist wieder mega.” = “The lineup at Berghain is amazing again.”
- Tanzen gehen
- Meaning: “To go dancing,” fairly standard but used as a casual slang equivalent to “Let’s go out.”
- Usage: “Lust tanzen zu gehen?” = “Wanna go dancing?”
- Kein Bock
- Meaning: “No desire,” “Not in the mood”
- Usage: “Ick hab kein Bock mehr auf Club.” = “I’m not in the mood for a club anymore.”
- Druff sein
- Meaning: Slang for “being under the influence” (drugs or alcohol)
- Usage: “Der Typ da is total druff.” = “That guy over there is totally out of it.”
- Verkatert
- Meaning: “Hungover”
- Usage: “Ick bin total verkatert vom letzten Abend.” = “I’m super hungover from last night.”
Category 6 – Emotions & Reactions
- Krass
- Meaning: “Crazy,” “Awesome,” or “Intense”
- Usage: “Die Aussicht is’ ja krass!” = “The view is insane!”
- Geil
- Meaning: “Cool,” “Awesome,” literally “horny” but used for excitement
- Usage: “Das Konzert war richtig geil!” = “That concert was really awesome!”
- Hammer
- Meaning: “Great,” “Awesome,” “Mind-blowing”
- Usage: “Die Party war der Hammer!” = “That party was mind-blowing!”
- Bombe
- Meaning: “Epic,” “Incredible”
- Usage: “Das Essen war Bombe!” = “The food was amazing!”
- Locker
- Meaning: “Relaxed,” “Chilled”
- Usage: “Bleib mal locker!” = “Relax!”
- Easy
- Meaning: “No problem,” “Chill” (borrowed from English)
- Usage: “Easy, wir schaffen das.” = “No worries, we’ll manage.”
- Genervt
- Meaning: “Annoyed,” “Irritated”
- Usage: “Ick bin voll genervt von den Touris.” = “I’m so annoyed by the tourists.”
- Geflasht
- Meaning: “Blown away,” “Wowed”
- Usage: “Ick war total geflasht von dem DJ-Set.” = “I was blown away by the DJ set.”
- Bock haben
- Meaning: “To feel like doing something,” “To want to”
- Usage: “Haste Bock auf Kino?” = “Do you feel like going to the cinema?”
- Läuft
- Meaning: “It’s going fine,” “All good”
- Usage: “Bei dir so? – Läuft.” = “How’s it going? – All good.”
Category 7 – Berliner Dialect Specifics
- Ick liebe dir
- Meaning: Deliberately incorrect “I love you” in Berliner dialect (instead of “Ich liebe dich”)
- Usage: Used humorously among friends or couples.
- JWD
- Meaning: Janz weit draußen (way out there), describing far-flung suburbs
- Usage: “Wer wohnt denn in JWD?!” = “Who the heck lives way out there?!”
- Piefke
- Meaning: A slightly pejorative term for a German from outside Berlin (often used in Austria too)
- Usage: Berliners might jokingly call non-Berliners “Piefke.”
- Ej
- Meaning: “Hey!” or “Yo!” in local accent
- Usage: “Ej, wat machste?” = “Hey, what are you up to?”
- Wat
- Meaning: “What” (instead of “was”)
- Usage: “Wat willst’n schon wieder?” = “What do you want now?”
- Is mir Wumpe
- Meaning: “I don’t care” or “Doesn’t matter to me”
- Usage: “Wo wir hingehen, is mir Wumpe.” = “Where we go, I don’t care.”
- Knorke
- Meaning: “Cool,” “Great,” old-school Berlin slang
- Usage: “Dit is echt knorke!” = “That’s really cool!”
- Kiek mal
- Meaning: “Look” or “Check it out”
- Usage: “Kiek mal, dit neue Street-Art da!” = “Check out that new street art!”
- Macke
- Meaning: “Quirk,” “Eccentricity,” or “Flaw”
- Usage: “Jeder hat ’ne Macke.” = “Everyone has a quirk.”
- Stulle schmieren
- Meaning: Literally “to butter a slice of bread,” but used for “to make a sandwich”
- Usage: “Ick geh ma ’ne Stulle schmieren.” = “I’m gonna make a sandwich.”
Category 8 – Work & School Slang
- Maloche
- Meaning: “Work,” “Drudgery”
- Usage: “Ick muss zur Maloche.” = “I have to go to work.”
- Schulbank drücken
- Meaning: “Attending school,” literally “press the school bench”
- Usage: “Ick drück noch die Schulbank, hab also kein Cash.” = “I’m still in school, so I’ve got no money.”
- Ackern
- Meaning: “To work hard,” “to plow”
- Usage: “Wir ackern wie verrückt vor der Deadline.” = “We’re working like crazy before the deadline.”
- Bürohengst / Bürohopse
- Meaning: “Office jockey,” used humorously for office workers
- Usage: “Na du Bürohengst, wieder bis spät im Office?” = “Hey office jockey, working late again?”
- Blau machen
- Meaning: “To skip work or school,” “to play hooky”
- Usage: “Heute mach ick blau.” = “I’m skipping work today.”
- Kaffee ziehen
- Meaning: “To grab coffee,” literally “pulling coffee”
- Usage: “Lass ma Kaffee ziehen vorm Meeting.” = “Let’s get coffee before the meeting.”
- Hackengas geben
- Meaning: “To hustle,” “to speed up,” literally “give it heel-gas”
- Usage: “Wenn wir pünktlich sein wollen, müssen wir Hackengas geben.” = “If we want to be on time, we need to hurry.”
- Cheffe
- Meaning: “Boss,” playful version of “Chef”
- Usage: “Mach mal Piano, Cheffe.” = “Take it easy, boss.”
- Kurz quatschen
- Meaning: “To chat briefly”
- Usage: “Können wir kurz quatschen, bevor dit Meeting losgeht?” = “Can we chat quickly before the meeting starts?”
- Auf Zack sein
- Meaning: “To be on the ball,” “to be sharp”
- Usage: “In Berlin musste echt auf Zack sein, sonst verpasst de wat.” = “You have to be on the ball in Berlin or you’ll miss out.”
Category 9 – Tech & Internet Slang
- Daddeln
- Meaning: “Playing video games”
- Usage: “Ick daddel gern abends ’ne Runde FIFA.” = “I like to play a round of FIFA in the evenings.”
- Meme
- Meaning: Same as English—funny images or videos online
- Usage: “Haste das neue Meme vom BVG-Account gesehen?” = “Did you see the new meme from BVG’s account?”
- Smombie
- Meaning: “Smartphone zombie,” someone glued to their phone
- Usage: “Auf der Warschauer Brücke laufen nur Smombies rum.” = “At Warschauer Bridge, everyone’s glued to their phones.”
- Abstürzen
- Meaning: “To crash” (computer or party metaphor)
- Usage: “Mein Rechner is’ abgestürzt.” = “My computer crashed.”
- Swipen
- Meaning: “To swipe,” borrowed from dating apps or smartphone usage
- Usage: “Ick swipe heut nur links, keeene Lust.” = “I’m only swiping left today, no interest.”
- Appen
- Meaning: “To use apps,” from “App”
- Usage: “Wir appen nur noch, wa?” = “We only use apps these days, huh?”
- Insta
- Meaning: Short for Instagram
- Usage: “Lad mal dit Foto bei Insta hoch.” = “Upload that photo on Instagram.”
- Likestorm
- Meaning: “A storm of likes,” when a post gets a lot of likes quickly
- Usage: “Krass, ik hab ’nen richtigen Likestorm auf mein neues Bild.” = “Wow, I got a crazy likestorm on my new pic.”
- E-Mailen
- Meaning: “To email,” also spelled “mailen”
- Usage: “Kannste mir die Infos rüberschicken? Einfach mailen.” = “Can you send me the info? Just email me.”
- Trashen
- Meaning: “To trash talk,” “to criticize harshly”
- Usage: “Im Forum wird nur rumgetrasht.” = “They’re just trash-talking in the forum.”
Category 10 – Random But Essential Expressions
- Mensch Meier!
- Meaning: An exclamation like “Oh man!” or “Good grief!”
- Usage: “Mensch Meier, ist dit kalt draußen!” = “Oh man, it’s cold out!”
- Kein Plan
- Meaning: “No idea,” “No clue”
- Usage: “Haste ’n Plan? – Nee, kein Plan.” = “Any idea? – Nope, no idea.”
- Is’ mir egal
- Meaning: “I don’t care,” “It’s all the same to me”
- Usage: “Wo wir essen, is’ mir egal.” = “Where we eat doesn’t matter to me.”
- Sowat von
- Meaning: “Totally,” “So much so”
- Usage: “Ick bin sowat von müde!” = “I’m soooo tired!”
- Auf dicke Hose machen
- Meaning: “To show off,” literally “wearing big pants”
- Usage: “Der macht immer auf dicke Hose, aber kann nix.” = “He always shows off but can’t do anything.”
- Verpeilt sein
- Meaning: “To be clueless,” “spaced out”
- Usage: “Ick bin heute total verpeilt.” = “I’m completely out of it today.”
- Icke
- Meaning: “Me” in Berliner dialect, emphatic version of “ich”
- Usage: “Icke hab dit janz alleine jeschafft!” = “I did it all by myself!”
- Dufte
- Meaning: “Great,” “Lovely,” old-timey slang
- Usage: “Das is echt dufte!” = “That’s really great!”
- Schwofen
- Meaning: “To sway/dance slowly,” sometimes used jokingly for dancing
- Usage: “Wir schwofen ’n bisschen zu ruhiger Musik.” = “We’re dancing a bit to slow music.”
- Tausend Dank
- Meaning: “Thanks a bunch”
- Usage: “Tausend Dank fürs Mitlesen!” = “Thanks a bunch for reading along!”
Conclusion – Ready to Conquer Berlin?
Glückwunsch—you’ve just powered through 100 essential German slang terms that’ll help you talk like a true Berliner. From the Berliner Schnauze nuances like ick and dit to the city’s epic nightlife expressions, you’re now equipped to navigate Berlin’s cultural landscape with confidence. Remember, the best way to internalize these phrases is by using them. So go ahead: order your Currywurst like a pro, chat up the locals at a Späti, or slip an ironic “Mensch Meier!” into your next conversation.
Keep the Learning Alive
- Practice: Next time you’re out in Berlin, or even chatting with German-speaking friends online, drop in a few of these expressions to see how people react.
- Explore More: Check out the Goethe-Institut for language courses and cultural resources to deepen your German.
- Stay Curious: Berlin’s linguistic landscape is always shifting. Listen closely for emerging slang—who knows what’s next?
Your Turn – Call to Action
Which slang term from this guide are you most excited to use? Have you discovered any knorke Berliner slang not on this list? Drop a comment below, share this article with your fellow German learners, and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more language tips and insider knowledge on European culture.
In Berlin, the phrase “Ick liebe dir” might sound off to grammar purists, but here, it’s all about expression, connection, and fun. So go forth, channel your inner Berliner, and embrace the city’s vibrant slang—du schaffst dit!
See Also: French Slang Guide: 100 Essential Terms for Parisian-Style Fluency
