Short answer
“cool” in German is cool
How to say cool in German?
How to say cool in German: the short answer is 'cool' – Germans use the English loanword all the time in everyday conversation. It means 'awesome' or 'impressive' when you praise something, and it can also mean 'calm' in phrases like 'bleib cool!' (stay cool!). For a more formal version of 'awesome', use 'toll' or 'großartig'; for a laid-back cool style, use 'lässig'. If someone stays calm under pressure, the standard word is 'gelassen'. Young speakers also use the slang word 'geil' for 'really cool'.
Common pairings
cool bleibeneine coole Ideeecht coolein cooler Typ
How to use it
- Use 'cool' in casual spoken German and on social media to mean 'awesome' or 'impressive'. In formal writing or polite settings, choose 'toll', 'großartig' or 'hervorragend' instead.
- When 'cool' means 'calm and in control', you can say 'bleib cool!' or 'Sie bleibt cool'. With strangers or in formal situations, 'gelassen' and 'ruhig' sound more standard.
- 'lässig' is for a relaxed, easygoing attitude, outfit or style. It is not the word you use to say that an idea is great.
- 'geil' is strong slang and originally meant 'arousing'. It is very common among younger speakers for 'awesome', but avoid it with older people and at work.
Examples
Das Konzert war echt cool.
The concert was really cool.
'echt' is a colloquial way of saying 'really' in German; here 'cool' means 'awesome'.
Bleib cool und warte kurz.
Stay cool and wait a moment.
'cool bleiben' is the set phrase for 'stay calm'. In formal German you would say 'bleiben Sie ruhig'.
Sie bleibt unter Stress immer gelassen.
She always stays cool under stress.
'gelassen' is the standard, more formal word for 'calm and composed'.
Er trägt die Sonnenbrille ganz lässig.
He wears the sunglasses in a really cool, relaxed way.
'lässig' describes an easy, laid-back coolness, not excitement about something.
Das neue Handy ist echt geil.
The new phone is really cool/awesome.
'geil' is very informal slang. Use it only with friends, not in professional settings.
Common mistakes
| Wrong | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Das ist |
Das ist cool. | 'kühl' means 'cool/cold' literally, and Germans do not use it to praise something. It sounds like you are talking about temperature or emotional coldness. |
| Unnatural | Natural | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ich bin |
Ich bin einverstanden mit dem Plan. | 'cool mit' is not a German construction. To say 'I am cool with the plan', use a natural German phrase like 'einverstanden sein mit'. |
FAQ
- How to say cool in GermanThe easiest answer is 'cool' – Germans use it in everyday talk to mean 'awesome' or 'impressive'. For 'calm and composed', say 'gelassen'; for slangy 'awesome', say 'geil'.
- Is 'kühl' the German word for cool?Only for temperature. 'Das Wasser ist kühl' means 'the water is cool/coldish'. To say a person or idea is cool, use 'cool' or, in formal German, 'toll' or 'großartig'.
- Can I use 'geil' to say cool in German?Among friends, yes: 'Das finde ich geil!' means 'I think that's awesome!'. But 'geil' is slang and can be inappropriate in formal settings.