German Tech Vocabulary: Internet, Phones, and Digital Life in German
German tech vocabulary blends official compounds (der Computerspieler, die Einstellungen, herunterladen/hochladen) with untranslatable-in-practice anglicisms (downloaden, googeln, streamen). Device names stay German-ish: der Handy (mobile phone — famously), der Rechner/Computer, der Drucker. Online actions follow the ge- pattern: geklickt, geliked, geteilt. Tech support German rewards precise verbs: funktioniert nicht beats kaputt.
German digital life speaks a hybrid: official forms (Herunterladen) coexist happily with Denglisch (runterladen, downloaden, streamen). Both count as correct; context chooses.
This guide maps devices, actions, settings menus, support-call phrases, and the slang that separates textbooks from actual internet usage.
Devices and hardware
| German | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| das Handy | mobile phone | uniquely German word, not anglicism! |
| der Rechner / Computer | computer | Rechner more technical |
| der Laptop / Notebook | laptop | both anglicisms accepted |
| das Ladegerät / Ladekabel | charger / cable | Gerät = device suffix |
| der Kopfhörer | headphones | literally 'head-hearer' |
| die Steckdose | power outlet | travel adapter essential |
Online actions: the verb family
- hochladen / herunterladen (upload/download) — formal; runterladen spoken
- senden / verschicken (send), empfangen (receive)
- teilen (share), liken (like), kommentieren (comment)
- speichern (save), löschen (delete), aktualisieren (update/refresh)
- einloggen / ausloggen (log in/out) — sich einloggen reflexive!
Settings menu decoder
| Menu item | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Einstellungen | settings |
| Datenschutz | privacy (data protection) |
| Benachrichtigungen | notifications |
| Speicher | storage |
| Akku | battery |
| Flugmodus | airplane mode |
| Wiederherstellen | restore/reset |
Tech support call script
- Mein Internet funktioniert nicht. (my internet doesn't work)
- Ich habe schon neu gestartet. (I already restarted — saves 5 minutes)
- Der Bildschirm bleibt schwarz. / Es kommt eine Fehlermeldung.
- Können Sie das Schritt für Schritt erklären?
- Langsamer bitte, ich schreibe mit. (slower please, I'm writing along)
Anglicisms Germans actually use
- googeln (to google) — fully verbified, even capitalized forms debated
- streamen, chatten, posten, taggen — regular weak verbs now
- downloaden/runterladen compete; uploaden exists too
- der Download, das Update, der Chat, die Mail — nouns fully naturalized
- Handy stays stubbornly German despite global iPhone pressure
Internet slang and texting conventions
Texting German abbreviates aggressively: lg (liebe Grüße), hdgdl (hab dich ganz doll lieb — teen territory), xd equivalents, u80? (über achtzig?). Numbers substitute rarely unlike Chinese; acronyms dominate. Formal emails keep MfG (Mit freundlichen Grüßen) alive.
Frequently asked questions
Why do Germans say Handy for mobile phone?
1980s German marketing coined it independently — pseudo-anglicism never used in English. Attempts to introduce Mobiltelefon failed culturally. Handy won permanently.
Is googeln officially a German word now?
Yes — Duden lists it (conjugated: ich google, du googelst, gegoggelt). Verbified brand names are rare German achievements; googeln leads the pack.
How do I say 'app'?
Die App (feminine), apps die Apps. Fully absorbed. Related: die App Store-Ausgabe... no — simply der App Store, das App-Icon. Compounds build freely.
Should I use German or English tech terms when working in Germany?
Mirror your colleagues. Corporate Germany mixes freely: 'Kannst du das File sharen?' is normal. Official documentation prefers German compounds. Both registers live side by side.
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