The German language is rich with regional expressions and slang words that have seamlessly integrated into standard usage over time.
Take the word "Tschüss", for example. This informal way of saying "goodbye" originated in northern Germany and is derived from the Low German word "adjüs," which itself comes from the French "adieu," meaning "to God." Initially used primarily in northern regions, "Tschüss" spread throughout Germany and is now a common parting phrase nationwide. A more formal alternative is "Auf Wiedersehen." For instance, "Ich muss jetzt gehen. Tschüss!" translates to "I have to go now. Goodbye!"
Another widely adopted term is "Moin," a greeting that originated along the North Sea coast, particularly in regions like Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein. Contrary to the assumption that it's a shortened form of "Morgen" (morning), "Moin" likely comes from the Low German word "moi," meaning "good" or "pleasant." It's used at any time of day to say "hello." In standard German, one might use "Guten Tag." An example sentence would be "Moin! Wie geht es dir?" meaning "Hello! How are you?"
From southern Germany and Austria comes "Servus," a greeting derived from the Latin word "servus," meaning "servant." Historically, it was a way of expressing servitude or readiness to serve. Today, it's used both to greet and bid farewell, much like "ciao" in Italian. A standard German equivalent would be "Hallo" or "Auf Wiedersehen." For example, "Servus! Bis morgen!" translates to "Bye! See you tomorrow!"
Moving into colloquialisms, "Kumpel" (der Kumpel) means "buddy" or "pal." The term comes from mining communities, particularly in the Ruhr area, where miners referred to each other as "Kumpel" to signify camaraderie. Over time, it entered general usage to denote a close friend in an informal context. A standard alternative is "Freund" (der Freund). For example, "Ich treffe mich heute mit meinem Kumpel," meaning "I'm meeting up with my buddy today."
The word "Geil" has undergone significant evolution. Originally meaning "lustful" or "horny," it was considered vulgar. However, starting in the late 20th century, younger generations repurposed it to mean "cool" or "awesome." While it has become mainstream, some older speakers might still find it inappropriate due to its original meaning. A standard alternative would be "toll" or "großartig." For instance, "Das Konzert war echt geil!" translates to "The concert was really awesome!"
Similarly, "krass" has shifted from meaning "glaring" or "blatant" to expressing astonishment or emphasis, akin to "incredible" or "extreme." It likely comes from the Latin "crassus," meaning "thick" or "coarse." In contemporary usage, someone might say, "Das ist ja krass!" meaning "That's really unbelievable!" A standard German equivalent could be "unglaublich" or "erstaunlich."
"Quatsch" (der Quatsch) is a term meaning "nonsense" or "rubbish." It possibly originates from the verb "quatschen," which means "to chat" or "to babble." Used to dismiss something as silly or untrue, a standard alternative is "Unsinn" (der Unsinn). For example, "Rede keinen Quatsch!" translates to "Don't talk nonsense!"
The adjective "lecker" means "tasty" or "delicious" and comes from Middle Low German "lecker," sharing the same meaning. While it's common today, it was once regional. A more formal synonym is "schmackhaft." An example sentence: "Das Essen war sehr lecker," meaning "The food was very tasty."
"Umsonst" is an adverb meaning either "in vain" or "for free," depending on context. It comes from Middle High German "umbe sūme," meaning "without payment." In standard German, "kostenlos" means "free of charge," while "vergeblich" means "in vain." An example: "Ich habe umsonst gewartet," which could mean "I waited in vain" or "I waited for free," depending on context.