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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?

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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EURO 2024

The German words and phrases you need for Euro 2024

With the Euros being hosted by Germany this summer, it's a great opportunity to broaden your German football vocabulary. Here are a collection of words and phrases to know to get into the games.

The German words and phrases you need for Euro 2024

Auf geht’s!

You’ll usually hear this as the match gets underway and it means: let’s go! Another common expression that means the same thing is Los geht’s! and Fans will often stick their team on the end – Auf geht’s Deutschland! or Los geht’s Dänemark!

You can also shout: Deutschland vor! (Go Germany!) and Weiter, weiter! (keep going) as the match goes on.  

If you’re not feeling so confident at screaming these phrases at a TV, a simple way of explaining which team you’re supporting in a conversation is by saying: Ich bin für Deutschland or Ich bin für Italien. 

Tor!

If you already speak some German, you might recognise this word, which means ‘”gate” or “door” (think Brandenburger Tor) However, in football terminology, it is probably the most joyous word you’ll hear at a match because it means goal. Shout it out when your team gets one in the back of the net!

Italy's defender #05 Riccardo Calafiori reacts after scoring an own goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B football match between Spain and Italy at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen on June 20, 2024.

Italy’s defender #05 Riccardo Calafiori reacts after scoring an own goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B football match between Spain and Italy at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen on June 20, 2024. Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP

This is a chant involving Tor that you might hear at a match or screening: “Los geht’s Deutschland, schießt ein Tor” (Let’s go Germany, score a goal!).

Meanwhile, the goalkeeper is called der Torwart or der Tormann. Some fans will use the English – goalie. 

READ ALSO: Where are the fan zones for Euro 2024 in Germany?

Elfmeter

For England fans – this is an important one, as England has had some famous trip-ups at penalty shootouts during international tournaments over the years.

The word for penalty kick in German literally means “eleven meters” – the distance from the penalty spot to the goal.

You’ll sometimes hear German fans shouting Elfer! If they think a player has been wronged and deserves a penalty.

Gut gehalten!

This is an excellent Fußball phrase to use if your team’s goalkeeper has just saved an Elfmeter. Literally translating to “well held”, this phrase means “good save”.

Denmark supporters cheer in front of a group of England supporters in Frankfurt on June 20th.

Denmark supporters cheer in front of a group of England supporters in Frankfurt on June 20th. Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP

Schiedsrichter

Der Schiedsrichter – or referee – is often the most unpopular person on the pitch. When watching a match with disgruntled German football fans, you might hear this word shortened to Schiri!, similar to how Ref! is used in English.

Schwalbe

The German word for the bird swallow – Die Schwalbe – is used as a rather poetic description for when a player takes a dive. In these situations, when a footballer dramatically falls to try to earn a free kick or a penalty, they often lie on the ground with their arms and legs spread out, resembling a swallow with its forked tail.

IN PICTURES: Football fans take over German cities for Euro 2024

A swallow in the night sky.

A swallow in the night sky. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Karl-Josef Hildenbrand

Abseits

You’ll hear this term frequently, especially if your team plays an attacking game. It’s the German word for “offside,” and fans will call it out whenever the linesman’s flag goes up. 

Meanwhile, der Freistoß is free kick and der Anstoß is kick off. 

Raus!

You’ll hear this being shouted out when things get tense. Raus! which means ‘out!’ is signalling for the players to quickly get the ball away from the box near their goals to avoid danger. 

Arschkarte

Getting shown die Arschkarte (literally arse card) is another word for getting a red card or Rote Karte. 

It dates back to the 1970s and is connected to referees keeping the yellow card in their shirt pocket and the red card in their back pocket, next to their butt. So it is literally an Arschkarte. You’ll also hear fans shouting Gelb! (yellow) or Rot! (red) if they think someone deserves a booking. Or simply Foul! or Foulspiel! (Foul or foul play). 

By the way, there’s an idiom that is used off the pitch. Die Arschkarte ziehen – ‘pulling the arse card’ is the equivalent to the English ‘drawing the short straw’. So if someone says: ‘Du hast die Arschkarte gezogen’, they mean – ‘you’re out of luck’ or ‘you drew the short straw’.

READ ALSO: How to watch the Euro 2024 tournament in Germany 

Das war knapp! 

Das war Knapp means ‘That was close!’ or ‘that was a close call!’ The Euro 2024 tournament is already proving to be nailbiting so this little phrase is a perfect one to call out in a variety of circumstances such as when your team nearly lets in a goal or when the game finishes, but you just made it. If your team wins by a whisker, you can also use the phrase: Um ein Haar! which translates to ‘by a hair!’

For example – Die deutsche Mannschaft hat um ein Haar gewonnen! – ‘The German team won by a whisker!’

With reporting by Rachel Loxton and Sarah Magill 

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