Germany

German Slang for Money & Work

4 German slang terms for money & work, each with its meaning, how it is pronounced and an example of it in use.

Slang for cash, cost, employment and effort. Money terms are among the oldest and most durable slang in any language, and often the most regionally specific.

Homeoffice

noun · Colloquial · HOHM-off-iss

Working from home, as a state rather than a room: 'ich bin im Homeoffice' means 'I'm working from home today', not 'I am in my study'.

+1 more sense

Kohle

noun · Colloquial · KOH-luh

Cash, dough. The most widely used German money slang, neutral enough for a workplace conversation and understood everywhere.

+1 more sense

malochen

verb · Colloquial · mah-LOKH-en

To graft, to slog — hard physical or grinding work, with a note of grievance about it. You malochst on a building site or through a double shift, never at a pleasant desk job.

+1 more sense

pleite

adjective, noun · Colloquial · PLY-tuh

Broke, skint — of a person with no money right now, or of a company that has actually gone under.

+1 more sense