prima
[ˈpʁiːma]
The German word for peachy is prima.
prima is used to express that something is very good. It can be used as a standalone exclamation to express that something is great or that one is doing well.
Meaning: very good (adj)
Which one should you use?
Unlike the English 'peachy', which can sometimes sound sarcastic or dated, the German prima is generally used with sincere positive intent. A common alternative to prima that carries a similar level of informal enthusiasm is super.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While widely understood, prima is a colloquial term used in casual conversation rather than formal writing.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word prima is an indeclinable adjective, meaning it does not change its ending based on the gender, number or case of the noun it describes.
Did you know?
- The word prima shares its root with the musical term 'prima donna', as both rely on the Italian word for 'first'.
- In German schools, prima is a common piece of 'teacher language' used to praise students, which sometimes gives the word a slightly childish or paternalistic connotation to adults.
- While prima is almost always positive, using it with a specific falling intonation in certain social contexts can signal a polite but distant agreement, similar to the English 'fine'.
Examples in context
- Die Konferenz verlief prima und unsere Ziele wurden erreicht.The conference went peachy and our goals were achieved.
- Ich habe meine Prüfung bestanden! Das ist super.I passed my exam! That's peachy.
- Das ist eine prima Idee!That is a peachy idea!
- Wir hatten eine prima Zeit.We had a peachy time.
Example conversation
Hannah and Lukas are discussing their weekend trip.
- HannahWar das Hotel für euch prima?Was the hotel peachy for you two?
- LukasJa, das Wetter war auch prima.Yes, the weather was also peachy.
- HannahDas freut mich sehr für dich.I am very happy for you.
- LukasDanke, es war wirklich toll.Thanks, it was really great.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry prima, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries prima, CC BY-SA 4.0.
