geil
slang, very common
The most common German slang for "awesome" is geil. Young speakers also use krass and mega for something impressive.
Meaning: great, impressive (slang) (adjective)
Ways to say it
| German | Note |
|---|---|
| geil | slang, very common |
| krass | slang |
| mega | slang |
Geil works like "sick" or "awesome" in English. You can say Das ist geil! about a song, a goal or a meal.
Which one should you use?
Krass means extreme and can be good or bad, so tone and context decide. Mega is a booster and often stands alone, as in Mega!
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Geil is casual and best kept for friends. It is fine in everyday talk but not in a formal email.
When do people say it?
Geil once meant only lustful and older speakers may still hear that edge in it.
Did you know?
- Geil is so common in youth speech that it is one of the first slang words learners hear in German films and songs.
Examples in context
- Das Konzert war geil!The concert was awesome!
- Dein neues Auto ist krass.Your new car is wild.
- Das Essen war mega.The food was great.
Example conversation
Jonas and Lea talk about a festival they just came back from.
- JonasWie war das Festival?How was the festival?
- LeaEinfach geil!Simply awesome!
- JonasDie Band war echt krass.The band was really something.
