Table of Contents
Everyday Colloquial German
Colloquial German gives you access to how people really speak in daily life. At B2 level you can already communicate well, but idioms and informal expressions will make your German sound more natural and help you understand films, series, and native speakers in relaxed conversations.
In this chapter you will meet frequent idioms and colloquial patterns, always with clear explanations in English and simple example sentences.
Formal, Neutral, and Colloquial Style
German has different levels of formality. You already know the difference between “Sie” and “du” and formal greetings. Here we look at what typically marks language as colloquial.
Common signs of colloquial style are shortened forms, little filler words, and relaxed grammar.
Example:
| Neutral / standard | Colloquial equivalent |
|---|---|
| Ich habe es nicht gesehen. | Ich hab’s nicht gesehen. |
| Ich weiß es nicht. | Keine Ahnung. / Weiß ich nicht. |
| Ich bin sehr müde. | Ich bin total müde. / Ich bin voll müde. |
| Ich bin nicht sicher. | Ich bin mir nicht sicher. / Bin mir nicht sicher. |
Colloquial German is usually not suitable for formal emails, job applications, or exams that test standard language.
In spoken informal German, subjects are often dropped if the context is clear, and words are reduced:
“Was machst du?” becomes “Was machste?” or even “Was machst’n?” in some regions. For B2, it is important to understand these forms even if you prefer to speak more clearly.
Filler Words and Particles in Spoken German
German uses many small words that do not change the basic meaning, but add emotion, politeness, or emphasis. They are very typical in colloquial language.
Here are some of the most frequent ones:
| Particle | Rough idea | Example in German | Meaning in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ja | shared knowledge, “as you know” | Das ist ja klar. | That is obvious, as you know. |
| doch | contradiction, encouragement | Komm doch mit! | Oh, come along! |
| mal | softens a request | Mach mal das Fenster zu. | Close the window (please). |
| eben | “just”, “simply”, resignation | Dann ist das eben so. | Then that is just how it is. |
| halt | similar to “eben”, acceptance | Das ist halt schwierig. | It is just difficult. |
| schon | reassurance, “it will be fine” | Das wird schon. | It will be fine. |
| denn | softens questions, makes them curious | Was machst du denn hier? | So what are you doing here? |
| eigentlich | “actually”, “by the way” | Wo wohnst du eigentlich? | Where do you actually live? |
| bloß | warning, emphasis | Mach das bloß nicht! | Just do not do that! |
Sentence particles like “ja, doch, mal, eben, halt, schon, denn, bloß” are not translated word by word. Their function is emotional or pragmatic, not lexical.
You can start by recognizing them in conversations and then try using one or two, especially “mal” in friendly requests and “doch” in invitations or encouragement.
Very Common Everyday Idioms
Idioms are fixed expressions whose meaning is not always clear from the individual words. You usually cannot change the words or the word order.
Idioms with “haben” and “sein”
These are easy to use because the structure is simple.
| Idiom | Literal meaning | Real meaning | Example (German) | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunger haben | to have hunger | to be hungry | Ich habe Hunger. | I am hungry. |
| Durst haben | to have thirst | to be thirsty | Sie hat Durst. | She is thirsty. |
| Pech haben | to have bad luck | to be unlucky | Wir hatten Pech mit dem Wetter. | We had bad luck with the weather. |
| Glück haben | to have luck | to be lucky | Du hast echt Glück. | You are really lucky. |
| Recht haben | to have right | to be right | Du hast Recht. | You are right. |
| im Stress sein / gestresst sein | to be in stress / stressed | to be under pressure | Ich bin total im Stress. | I am really stressed. |
| gut drauf sein | to be well on it | to be in a good mood | Heute bin ich echt gut drauf. | I am in a great mood today. |
| schlecht drauf sein | to be badly on it | to be in a bad mood | Er ist heute schlecht drauf. | He is in a bad mood today. |
Idioms with “machen” and “geben”
Some verbs appear in many idioms and are very frequent in colloquial speech.
| Idiom | Literal meaning | Real meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stress machen | to make stress | to cause trouble, to put pressure on | Mach dir keinen Stress. |
| Ärger machen | to make anger | to cause trouble | Das macht nur Ärger. |
| Spaß machen | to make fun | to be fun | Das macht Spaß. |
| Sinn machen | to make sense | to be logical, reasonable | Das macht keinen Sinn. |
| eine Pause machen | to make a break | to take a break | Lass uns eine Pause machen. |
| Bescheid sagen / geben | to give notice | to let someone know | Sag mir bitte Bescheid. |
| jemandem Recht geben | to give someone right | to agree with someone | Ich gebe dir Recht. |
| Gas geben (colloquial) | to give gas | to speed up, to hurry, to try harder | Jetzt müssen wir echt Gas geben. |
“Bescheid sagen / geben” is extremely common in everyday speech and good to learn early.
Softening, Intensifying, and “Real Life” Tone
Colloquial German often changes the tone using small words and intensifiers.
Softening orders and requests
Compare:
“Mach das Fenster zu.” is a direct command.
“Mach mal das Fenster zu, bitte.” is softer and sounds more friendly.
You can combine modal verb “können” with particles:
“Könntest du mal kurz helfen?” is a very common polite request in spoken language.
Intensifiers and informal adverbs
Here are frequent colloquial intensifiers:
| Word | Idea | Example (German) | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| total | very, completely | Das ist total wichtig. | That is really important. |
| voll | very (informal) | Der Film war voll gut. | The film was really good. |
| mega | super, extremely (youth) | Das Konzert war mega laut. | The concert was extremely loud. |
| echt | really, genuinely | Das ist echt nett von dir. | That is really nice of you. |
| ziemlich | quite, pretty | Ich bin ziemlich müde. | I am quite tired. |
In formal writing it is better to use “sehr” and avoid “mega” or “voll” as intensifiers.
Everyday Reactions and Short Phrases
Spoken German is full of short reaction phrases. They make your conversations more natural.
Showing surprise, interest, or disbelief
| German expression | Use | Example | English idea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Echt? | strong interest / surprise | Ich ziehe nach Berlin. – Echt? | Really? |
| Wirklich? | polite surprise / checking | Du kommst nicht? – Wirklich? | Really? |
| Ach so. | “Now I understand” | Ach so, du meinst das anders. | Ah, I see. |
| Ach was! | strong disbelief, informal | Er hat das wirklich gemacht? – Ach was! | No way! / You are kidding! |
| Krass! | youth slang for “intense”, “wow” | Er hat gewonnen? – Krass! | Wow! / That is crazy! |
Agreeing or disagreeing informally
| German expression | Function | Example | English idea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genau. | agreement | – Das ist schwierig. – Genau. | Exactly. |
| Stimmt. | agreement, confirmation | – Es ist kalt. – Stimmt. | True. / That is right. |
| Auf jeden Fall. | strong agreement | Wir treffen uns morgen. – Auf jeden Fall. | Definitely. |
| Keine Ahnung. | “I do not know” (quite informal) | Wo ist er? – Keine Ahnung. | No idea. |
| Kommt drauf an. | depends on something | Kommst du mit? – Kommt drauf an. | It depends. |
| Nicht wirklich. | soft disagreement | War der Film gut? – Nicht wirklich. | Not really. |
Informal Ways to Talk about People and Things
Colloquial German develops special words that may be friendly, neutral, or sometimes rude. You should understand them, but use them carefully.
Positive and neutral expressions
| Expression | Use / meaning | Example | Rough English equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kumpel (m) | buddy, male friend (informal) | Er ist ein guter Kumpel von mir. | buddy, pal |
| Klamotten (pl) | clothes (informal) | Ich kaufe morgen neue Klamotten. | clothes |
| Kram (m) | stuff, things | Ich muss noch meinen ganzen Kram packen. | stuff, things |
| Zeug (n) | stuff, things | Lass dein Zeug nicht hier liegen. | stuff |
| Kiste (f) | box, or colloquial car | Wir fahren mit der alten Kiste nach Italien. | old car |
| Kohle (f, singular) | money (slang) | Ich habe gerade keine Kohle. | cash, money |
Caution with negative or rude words
There are also rude slang words for people, especially as insults. For B2 it is important to recognize that such words are rude, but you do not need to use them.
Avoid using insulting slang about people. Many words are very strong and can easily sound aggressive or disrespectful.
Getting Things Done: Practical Colloquial Phrases
In daily life situations, idiomatic phrases are more common than textbook sentences.
Making suggestions and invitations
| German phrase | Typical situation | English idea |
|---|---|---|
| Wollen wir was trinken gehen? | inviting someone out | Want to go for a drink? |
| Hast du Lust, … zu …? | suggesting a joint activity | Do you feel like …? |
| Wie wär’s mit …? | informal proposal | How about …? |
| Lass uns ins Kino gehen. | direct suggestion | Let’s go to the cinema. |
| Wir können ja später telefonieren. | soft suggestion using “ja” | We could talk on the phone later. |
Talking about plans and arrangements
| German phrase | Usage | English idea |
|---|---|---|
| Wir bleiben in Kontakt. | ending a friendly meeting | We will stay in touch. |
| Ich melde mich. | promise to contact someone | I will get in touch. |
| Ich schreib dir. | informal, often SMS / chat | I will text you. |
| Passt dir das? | checking if something is convenient | Does that work for you? |
| Das passt. / Das passt nicht. | reacting to a proposal | That works. / That does not work. |
Region and Age: Variation in Colloquial German
Many colloquial forms depend on region or on the age group. Some features:
- “Grüß dich!” or “Servus!” are more common in southern Germany and Austria.
- “Na?” as a greeting (“Na, alles klar?”) is very common among younger people and in central and northern regions.
- Shortened question forms: “Was machst du?” becomes “Was machste?” in many dialect-influenced areas.
For B2 you do not need to use all regional variations, but it is useful to recognize them in films and conversations.
If you are not sure, use standard grammar and vocabulary. It is always safe. Learn colloquial forms mainly for listening and understanding, and then slowly add some neutral, widely used expressions.
Typical Idioms for Feelings and Opinions
Many idioms help you talk about what you think or feel, especially in discussions.
| Idiom / expression | Meaning | Example (German) | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Das nervt (mich). | That annoys me. | Die Werbung nervt mich total. | The advertising really annoys me. |
| Ich habe keine Lust. | I do not feel like it. | Ich habe keine Lust zu lernen. | I do not feel like studying. |
| Ich bin dafür. / Ich bin dagegen. | I am in favor / against it. | Bist du dafür? – Ich bin dagegen. | Are you for it? – I am against it. |
| Das kommt nicht infrage. | That is out of the question. | Eine Lüge kommt für mich nicht infrage. | A lie is out of the question for me. |
| Das ist mir egal. | I do not care. | Was wir essen, ist mir egal. | I do not mind what we eat. |
| Mir ist kalt / warm. | I feel cold / warm. | Mach zu, mir ist kalt. | Close it, I feel cold. |
Understanding Reduced Spoken Forms
In everyday speech many forms are shortened, so you must learn to recognize them by sound and context.
Here are some very common reductions in informal spoken language:
| Standard form | Informal spoken form | Example (German) |
|---|---|---|
| Was ist das? | Was ist’n das? / Was’n das? | Was’n das da? |
| Hast du …? | Hast’e …? / Hasste …? | Hasste Zeit morgen? |
| Ich habe | Ich hab | Ich hab keine Zeit. |
| Ich werde es machen. | Ich werd’s machen. | Keine Sorge, ich werd’s machen. |
| Ich bin es. | Ich bin’s. | Hallo, ich bin’s. |
| etwas | was (colloquial) | Ich will was essen. |
Use reduced forms mainly in relaxed spoken German, not in written texts or exams that expect standard language.
Summary: How to Work with Idioms and Colloquial Language
To get comfortable with idioms and colloquial speech:
- Listen a lot to authentic German, such as series, podcasts, or YouTube.
- Note expressions that repeat often, like “Keine Ahnung”, “Kommt drauf an”, “Ach so”.
- Start using a few simple, safe expressions yourself.
- Keep formal writing standard and clean. Save colloquial style for chats and friendly talk.
Over time you will build a personal collection of idioms and informal phrases that match your personality and communication needs.
Vocabulary List
| German | English | Notes / register |
|---|---|---|
| Hunger haben | to be hungry | everyday |
| Durst haben | to be thirsty | everyday |
| Pech haben | to be unlucky | everyday |
| Glück haben | to be lucky | everyday |
| Recht haben | to be right | everyday |
| im Stress sein | to be stressed / under pressure | colloquial |
| gut drauf sein | to be in a good mood | colloquial |
| schlecht drauf sein | to be in a bad mood | colloquial |
| Stress machen | to cause stress / trouble | colloquial |
| Ärger machen | to cause trouble | everyday |
| Spaß machen | to be fun | everyday |
| Sinn machen | to make sense | everyday (informal style) |
| eine Pause machen | to take a break | everyday |
| Bescheid sagen / geben | to let someone know | very frequent idiom |
| jemandem Recht geben | to agree with someone | everyday |
| Gas geben | to hurry / speed up | colloquial |
| total | very, completely | informal intensifier |
| voll | very | slang / informal |
| mega | very, super | youth language |
| echt | really, genuinely | everyday |
| ziemlich | quite, pretty | neutral |
| Keine Ahnung. | No idea. | informal answer |
| Kommt drauf an. | It depends. | everyday |
| Nicht wirklich. | Not really. | everyday |
| Echt? | Really? | informal surprise |
| Wirklich? | Really? | neutral |
| Ach so. | Ah, I see. | very frequent |
| Ach was! | No way! / You are kidding! | informal, emotional |
| Krass! | Wow! / That is crazy! | youth slang |
| Genau. | Exactly. | everyday |
| Stimmt. | That is true. | everyday |
| Auf jeden Fall. | Definitely. | everyday |
| Das nervt (mich). | That annoys (me). | colloquial |
| Ich habe keine Lust. | I do not feel like it. | everyday |
| Ich bin dafür. | I am in favor. | everyday |
| Ich bin dagegen. | I am against it. | everyday |
| Das kommt nicht infrage. | That is out of the question. | everyday |
| Das ist mir egal. | I do not care. / It is all the same to me. | everyday |
| Mir ist kalt / warm. | I feel cold / warm. | everyday |
| Kumpel (m) | buddy, mate | informal |
| Klamotten (pl) | clothes | informal |
| Kram (m) | stuff, things | informal |
| Zeug (n) | stuff, things | informal |
| Kiste (f) | box; colloquial car | informal |
| Kohle (f, singular) | money | slang / informal |
| Wollen wir was trinken gehen? | Want to go for a drink? | informal invitation |
| Hast du Lust, … zu …? | Do you feel like …? | everyday |
| Wie wär’s mit …? | How about …? | informal |
| Lass uns … | Let’s … | everyday spoken |
| Wir können ja … | We could … (soft suggestion) | colloquial |
| Wir bleiben in Kontakt. | We will stay in touch. | everyday |
| Ich melde mich. | I will get in touch. | everyday |
| Ich schreib dir. | I will text / write you. | informal |
| Passt dir das? | Does that work for you? | everyday |
| Das passt. | That works / fits. | everyday |
| Das passt nicht. | That does not work / fit. | everyday |
| ja (particle) | expresses shared knowledge | colloquial |
| doch (particle) | contradiction, encouragement | colloquial |
| mal (particle) | softens a request | colloquial |
| eben (particle) | expresses acceptance, “just” | colloquial |
| halt (particle) | similar to “eben”, resignation | colloquial |
| schon (particle) | reassurance, “it will be fine” | colloquial |
| denn (particle in questions) | softens questions | colloquial |
| eigentlich | actually | everyday |
| bloß (particle) | warning or strong emphasis | colloquial |
| Was’n das? | What is that? (reduced form) | very informal spoken |
| Hasste Zeit? | Do you have time? (reduced) | very informal spoken |
| Ich bin’s. | It’s me. | everyday spoken |
| was (for “etwas”) | something, a bit | informal spoken |
| Grüß dich! | informal greeting | regional, often south |
| Servus! | informal greeting / goodbye | regional, south / Austria |
| Na? | informal greeting, “Hi” | colloquial |