“Das Crazy” Crowned German Youth Word of the Year 2025
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Nearly two million votes were cast to determine that “das crazy” is the defining slang term of 2025 among German youth, signaling a continuing trend of English influence and linguistic brevity.
The winning phrase, an elliptical form of the English word “crazy,” was announced live at the Frankfurt Book Fair by Langenscheidt-Verlag, narrowly beating out contenders “goonen” and “checkst du” in the final round of voting. The selection process, now in its 17th year, offers a unique snapshot into the evolving language of Germany’s youth.
Linguistics expert Karsten Bahlo, who researches youth language at the University of Münster, predicted the success of “das crazy” prior to the vote. “I assume that it has grate potential to win as it is indeed actually in vogue wiht many young people,” Bahlo stated. He highlighted the term as an example of how youth language evolves, noting that while “crazy” itself has been a youth word for some time, its truncated form is a relatively new advancement.
Nikolas Hoenig,marketing director at Pons Langenscheidt,echoed this sentiment,emphasizing the ongoing impact of English on german youth vernacular and the trend towards linguistic shortening. “So ‘das crazy’ represents the spirit of the times – and that is exactly the aim of the election,” Hoenig added.
A “Cult Announcer” Embraces the New Slang
The new youth word also found an advocate in Susanne Daubner, a popular news anchor for Germany’s “Tagesschau” program. Daubner traditionally explains the winning term on the program’s social media channels, and has become a beloved figure for her efforts. “This expression is used to make it clear that something is crass. For example, if I were to start a rap career now,” she explained in a recent post.
Daubner admitted to initially being unsure about the phrase,but ultimately found herself warming to it. “I think I would say ‘crazy’. But the more often I say ‘das crazy’ to myself, the more I actually think it’s good – maybe I’ll add it to my vocabulary too,” she shared. Fans previously protested when Daubner considered discontinuing her annual youth word explanations, demonstrating her notable connection with the audience. In 2021, she famously presented the word “Cringe” with a deliberately formal tone, quipping, “”Cringe” is the feeling you have when I say the following sentence: “Digga, how fly is the “Tagesschau” when it uses youth words.””
voting and the Evolution of Youth Language
The selection process, open exclusively to individuals aged 11 to 20, saw nearly two million votes cast online sence the campaign launched at the end of May. A publisher spokeswoman confirmed that offensive, racist, or discriminatory terms were removed in advance, as were submissions identified as part of coordinated campaigns. Participants were asked to truthfully state their age, though the publisher acknowledged relying on self-reporting.
Langenscheidt-Verlag has been selecting the “Youth Word of the Year” since 2008, with “Gammelfleischparty” (over-30 party) taking the title in the inaugural year.Last year’s winner was “aura,” describing a person’s special charisma, while “goofy” – meaning clumsy or silly – won in 2023.
Ultimately, the selection of “das crazy” highlights the dynamic nature of language and the constant influence of youth culture. As Germanist Bahlo noted,adult adoption of youth slang “often comes across as pandering,” but it’s undeniable that youth language shapes the broader linguistic landscape over time. “Our current colloquial language is congealed youth language from the last decades,” Bahlo emphasized, pointing to words like “great” and “crazy” as examples of terms that once originated as youth slang.
