Level: A2 (Colloquial) Focus: Slang terms (Krass, Bock, Alter) and Modal Particles (halt, mal, doch).
Part 1: Story & Dialogue
Context: It is Friday night. Lukas meets his German friend Tim and Lisa outside a "Späti" (a late-night kiosk common in Berlin) before going out.
Tim: Na? Alles klar bei dir?
Well? Everything clear (good) with you?
Lukas: Ja, alles fit. Und bei dir?
Yes, everything fit (good). And you?
Tim: Muss ja. Die Woche war echt stressig.
It has to be. The week was really stressful.
Mein Chef ist total bescheuert.
My boss is totally stupid/crazy.
Er hat mich am Freitagabend noch angerufen.
He called me on Friday evening still.
Lukas: Boah, das ist ja krass. Was wollte er?
Whoa, that is crazy/intense. What did he want?
Tim: Ach, nur Quatsch. Nichts Wichtiges.
Oh, just nonsense. Nothing important.
Aber egal. Hast du heute Abend Bock auf Party?
But whatever. Do you have desire/interest for a party tonight?
Lukas: Eigentlich schon. Aber ich bin ein bisschen müde.
Actually yes. But I am a little tired.
Tim: Komm schon! Stell dich nicht so an.
Come on! Don't make a fuss.
Wir gehen nur kurz in eine Bar, okay?
We'll just go briefly into a bar, okay?
Lisa kommt dazu.
Lisa joins them.
Lisa: Hey Leute! Was geht ab?
Hey guys! What's up? (What goes off?)
Tim: Hey Lisa. Lukas ist müde.
Hey Lisa. Lukas is tired.
Er hat keinen Bock.
He has no desire (zero interest).
Lisa: Was? Das ist doch Freitag!
What? That is (emphasis) Friday!
Du kannst doch nicht zu Hause bleiben.
You can't (obvious fact) stay at home.
Lukas: Ja, ja, ihr habt ja recht.
Yeah, yeah, you guys are right.
Ich brauche halt erst mal einen Kaffee oder ein Mate.
I just/simply need a coffee or a Mate first.
Tim: Alter, du trinkst jetzt ein Bier, kein Mate!
Dude/Man, you drink a beer now, not a Mate!
Lisa: Lass ihn mal. Er kann trinken, was er will.
Let him (softener). He can drink what he wants.
Lukas: Danke, Lisa. Wo gehen wir hin?
Thanks, Lisa. Where are we going?
Tim: Wir gehen ins "Bohnengold". Das ist ein cooler Laden.
We are going to "Bohnengold". That is a cool shop (place/bar).
Lisa: Oh cool, da war ich ewig nicht mehr.
Oh cool, I haven't been there in forever.
Das wird sicher lustig.
That will surely be funny (fun).
Lukas: Na gut. Ich komme mit.
Oh well. I'm coming along.
Aber wenn die Musik nervt, gehe ich nach Hause.
But if the music annoys (sucks), I go home.
Tim: Deal. Auf geht's!
Deal. Let's go!
Part 2: Vocabulary Section (Slang & Colloquialisms)
Na?
English Meaning: Hi / Well? / How are you?
Pronunciation Hack: Nah
Example Usage:
Na? Wie geht's?
Krass
English Meaning: Crazy / Intense / Cool / Awful
Pronunciation Hack: Krass
Example Usage:
Das Auto ist krass!
Bock haben
English Meaning: To be up for it / wanna do it
Pronunciation Hack: Bock ha-ben
Example Usage:
Ich habe null Bock auf Arbeit.
Alter / Digger
English Meaning: Dude / Man / Bro
Pronunciation Hack: Al-ta / Dig-ga
Example Usage:
Alter, was machst du da?
Bescheuert
English Meaning: Stupid / Crazy / Dumb
Pronunciation Hack: be-shoy-ert
Example Usage:
Die Idee ist bescheuert.
Quatsch
English Meaning: Nonsense / Rubbish
Pronunciation Hack: Kvatsch
Example Usage:
Das ist doch Quatsch!
Muss ja.
English Meaning: Can't complain / It has to be.
Pronunciation Hack: Moos yah
Example Usage:
"Wie geht's?" - "Muss ja."
Nervig / nerven
English Meaning: Annoying / to annoy
Pronunciation Hack: Nair-ven
Example Usage:
Du nervst mich.
Eigentlich
English Meaning: Actually / Technically
Pronunciation Hack: Eye-gent-lish
Example Usage:
Eigentlich habe ich keine Zeit.
Der Laden
English Meaning: The shop (slang for bar/club)
Pronunciation Hack: Lah-den
Example Usage:
Der Laden ist voll.
Part 3: Grammar Focus
Topic: Modal Particles (Die Abtönungspartikeln)
These are the hardest words to translate. They don't change the fact of the sentence, but they tell you the speaker's attitude. Using them makes you sound very German.
1. HALT (Resignation / Fact)
Meaning: "It is what it is," "simply," "just." It implies you can't change the situation.
"Ich bin halt müde." (I'm simply tired, I can't help it).
"Berlin ist halt laut." (Berlin is just loud, that's how it is).
2. DOCH (Emphasis / Correction / "You know this")
Meaning: Often implies the other person should already know this, or you are insisting on something.
"Das ist doch Freitag!" (Come on, you know it's Friday, why are you acting like this?).
"Du kommst doch, oder?" (You are coming, right? - Expecting a yes).
3. MAL (Softener)
Meaning: Makes a command sound friendlier or indicates "briefly."
Command: "Gibt mir das Wasser." (Hard/Rude).
With Mal: "Gib mir mal das Wasser." (Casual/Friendly: Pass me the water for a sec).
Story Example: "Lass ihn mal." (Just let him be, chill out).
4. JA (Surprise / Affirmation)
Meaning: In the middle of a sentence, it can mean "As you know" or express surprise.
"Das ist ja krass!" (Wow, that is indeed crazy!).
Story Example: "Ihr habt ja recht." (You guys are right, I admit it).
5. NA (The Universal Opener) "Na" is a complete conversation starter.
Person A: "Na?" (Hi / How are you?)
Person B: "Na?" (Hi / I'm good / And you?)
Person A: "Alles klar?"
Person B: "Muss ja."