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LEARNING GERMAN

REVEALED: This year’s top 10 German ‘youth words’ and what they mean

Once again stuffed with English terms adapted into German, the Langenscheidt publishing house released its annual list of the top 10 German youth words on Wednesday. But what do they mean - and how do the cool kids use them?

Published: 9 August 2023 16:12 CEST
Jugendwort
Archive photo shows people photographing an ad for the 'Youth Word of the Year' competition at a hotel in Munich in 2016. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Peter Kneffel

A mix of both long-standing slang terms and freshly-minted Denglisch, the list forms the basis for an annual competition that aims to crown one “Jugendwort des Jahres” (youth word of the year).

READ ALSO: Denglisch: The English words which will make you sound German

Until September 20th, anyone can cast their vote for the top ten words on the website jugendwort.de, Langenscheidt announced Wednesday.

However, only the votes of participants between the ages of 10 and 20 will be considered for the competition, which will announce a final winner on October 22nd. 

Langenscheidt has been publishing the Youth Word of the Year since 2008 – at that time, the winner was the very flattering word “Gammelfleischparty” (rotting meat party, or any celebration attended by people aged 30 and older).

Much hyped in the German media each year, the competition has also been criticised in the past as simply being an advertising campaign by the publisher.

So what are the top words?

Auf Lock: A shorter form of „Auf locker angelehnt“ oder „locker gemacht“, his means to take on things in a more relaxed (or locker) manner. 

Darf er so?: An abbreviation for “Darf er das einfach so sagen?” (Can he actually say that?), the term expresses astonishment that someone had the nerve to say something. It’s usually negative, indignantly expressing disappointment at a hurtful joke or statement. 

Digga(h): Hardly a new term, this dates back to Hamburg in the late 1960s. Stemming from Dicker, or fat man, it’s really just a term for bro or mate. It became popular among the young’uns in the ‘90s when it was popularised in the Deutschrap scene, and sounded like digga when quickly rapped. 

READ ALSO: German word of the day: Digga

Digga

A sign at the Hurricane summer festival in Scheeßel, Lower Saxony in 2022 tells visitors, “Put on sunscreen! Dude!” Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Hauke-Christian Dittrich

goofy: Taken from American English, this word doesn’t quite have a direct translation in German, with albern coming closest. This Jugendwort, in addition to meaning silly, is also a way to describe a person who acts awkward or clumsy – but, like in English, in a way that makes people laugh along with them. 

Kerl*in: There are countless translations for this word, which basically just means guy. In British English, you might say block, chap or lad, or simply dude in American English. It’s also possible to say the feminine form, Kerlin, but it’s far less common. 

NPC: An abbreviation for non-playable character, this term has been around in English for as long as video games, and refers to any character who, as the name suggests, can’t be controlled by the player of the game. But when this term is used in German it means, in a pretty derogatory fashion, that a person does not play a central role and is easily forgotten. Ouch.

Rizz: If someone has this quality, they can easily charm or win over other people. If that simply sounds like “charisma”, it’s because it was indeed taken directly from the middle of the English word. 

Side-eye: This word may sound to older folks like it’s referring to an unusual birth defect (or what fish have). But the Jugend use it to refer to a distainful look you give another person when they say something you either find repulsive or strange.

Slay: No, the Jugend of Germany aren’t thinking of Buffy the Vampire Slayer when they throw out this term. Rather the term, popularised on TikTok and Instagram and the like, is an expression for anyone who makes an impression, “slaying” you with their actions or appearance. 

YOLO: Already the Jugendwort winner of 2012, this English-language acronym has once again made the list. “You Only Live Once” has become the motto of anyone looking to use chances they have or take a risk.  

READ ALSO: English YOLO voted top German youth word

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LEARNING GERMAN

‘Forget about bilingual Kitas’: Key tips for raising bilingual kids in Germany

With greater numbers of international workers choosing to settle in Germany and raise a family, the question of how to best raise bilingual children is often considered. 

Published: 25 April 2024 15:01 CEST
Updated: 28 April 2024 08:35 CEST
'Forget about bilingual Kitas': Key tips for raising bilingual kids in Germany

The Local asked its readers who have raised bilingual children in Germany to tell us how they managed to raise children who speak German in addition to their parent’s mother tongue. 

Trust the (school) system. 

One piece of advice was echoed by several readers: Trust the German education system to take care of teaching German through immersion. 

Siniša, 44, from Hesse, who speaks Croatian and English at home, told The Local: “Speak your native language at home. The school will ‘cover’ German and other languages.”

Steve, 55, who lives in Munich and speaks English and Spanish with his daughter agrees.

“Be consistent and raise your child in your native tongue. At a local school, they will learn German quickly,” he said.

Chris, 44, from Hamburg, who speaks English with his children, backed the idea of leaving kids’ schools to take charge of teaching them German.

“Get the kids into the German education system as early as possible and let them learn themselves from native speakers. As a bonus, they’ll pick it up quickly and not pick up a ‘non-German’ accent either,” he said.

Read more: ‘Multilingualism is an enrichment’ – The challenges of raisin bilingual kids in Germany

Readers also noted that even in the preschool stage, children can handle multiple languages. 

Julie, 41, who lives in Hamburg and speaks English and Italian at home, said: “Relax and go with the flow. Don’t get hung up on finding bilingual Kitas for toddlers if they already get significant exposure to the non-German language at home. Languages seem to develop in different spurts at different speeds.”

However, liaising with schools in Germany was noted as an essential skill. 

Kim, 46, based in Sindelfingen, with a family speaking both English and German, said: “It’s essential for at least one parent to understand German when children attend a German school. They can help explain language and cultural differences. They can also help with administrative matters and even homework.”

Maintain the mother tongue.

While readers were keen to encourage parents to trust the immersion process that German schools provide, they were also quick to advise a concerted effort to maintain speaking the mother tongue in and around the home. 

“For international parents, I think it’s very important that their children do not lose touch with their mother tongue, as it is a very special part of their identity,” said Prashanth, 42, who lives in Munich.

Anne-Marie, 52, from Frankfurt, who speaks ‘Singlish’ (Singaporean English) with her children, stated that it’s essential to be firm.

“Speak in your mother tongue to your kids from the day they are born. Be consequent about it, even in front of other people who do not speak your mother tongue,” she said.

Karl, 44, who lives in Celle and who speaks English and the indigenous American Ute language with his children, said getting family on board is important. 

“Communicate with all family members your decision, intentionally speak all of the languages, when possible provide translations so family members present are not excluded from conversations,” he said.

Charles, 40, from Berlin, even stated that speaking German at home may prove detrimental: “Don’t speak your own mediocre German with them. It may be hard to see them speaking another language as their more comfortable primary language than your own.”

Charles, who speaks English at home, added: “Find books and shows to share with them in your native language to continue the shared experience.”

Read More: What foreign parents should know about German schools

Just let it happen with the kids…

Sometimes, it seems, becoming bilingual takes care of itself. 

Paul, 40, from Munich, married to a German, said: “Our oldest just started speaking English one day around age 3. She had heard so much she could understand and just started talking. 

“The twins are starting to speak more and more English. It wasn’t a problem since she was fluent in both by age 4. I advise patience and not expecting perfection at a young age.

Crystal, 38, who lives in Nuremberg and speaks English at home, responded: “At first, my main concern was getting as much German into our lives as possible so my son would be ready for Grundschule. 

“Now I’m swinging the other way. My advice is to try to relax. There are always other things to worry about, and kids learn so much really quickly.”

…but also challenge yourself

Finally, respondents to The Locals’ survey repeated that raising bilingual children is something that requires a degree of effort – on the parent’s behalf. 

J.K, 40, who lives in Hanau and speaks English and Telugu at home, told The Local: “Language is very important for the kids to grow in a culture. 

“Parents should facilitate situations around the kid to better integrate locally. Parents (at least one) should be able to speak German at a level better than B1. 

“If not, supporting kids in their education is difficult, and this will hamper their chances of reaching a higher education level.”

Read More: Six surprising facts about Germany’s school system

Moreno, 40, who lives in Munich and speaks Portuguese with his children, was firm in his advice: “Don’t choose the easy way for you, parents. Don’t hide in your language community bubble. 

“If you intend to live in Germany for a long time, put your kids in German schools and get them in touch with the German community.

“If you don’t speak German like me, deal with it. But don’t transfer your problem to your kids.”

Have we missed any crucial advice for raising bilingual children in Germany? Tell us in the comments section below.

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