What does “krass” mean?

Question

During conversations with native German speakers, I have heard the word "krass" used in different contexts. But I still don't know how to translate it.

Any ideas?

Answer 1

"krass" is actually not such a new word as it's modern slang usage suggests. It is a loanword from Latin "crassus" and as such shares the same etymology as the English "gross" does.

In general usage "krass" is used for extremes in either a positive or mostly a negative connotation:

Diese Aussage steht in krassem Gegensatz zu seiner sonstigen Einstellung.
Dies war ein besonders krasser Fall von Betrug.

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From the 18. Century krass was also used by students, apparently first in the idiom

"Ein krasser Fuchs" - a young student with little experience in life

The Grimms wrote in their dictionary:

KRASS, plump, grob, derb, dann arg, schrecklich, fürchterlich, nach lat. crassus, doch vermengt mit grasz, gräszlich; ein in manchen kreisen beliebtes superlativisches kraftwort, bes. studentisch (krasser fuchs, kerl), seit ende 18. jh.

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Only in recent years "krass" is also used in German youth slang with several meanings that have already been pointed out.

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An appropriate translation can not be done without a context because of the so many different meanings "krass" can have.

Answer 2

"Krass" as a slang term can mean many different things from "cool" over "that's odd" to "what a pity". It depends on the situation. Colloquially it's an all purpose adjective, mainly used by young people. For emphasizing you can use it together with "voll".

Examples:

"Gestern ist meine Mutter gestorben." (Yesterday my mother died.)
"Krass. Tut mir echt leid für dich." (What a pity. I'm so sorry for you.)

"Ich hab im Lotto gewonnen!" (I have won the lottery!)
"Voll krass! Glückwunsch." (Cool! Congrats.)

"Werner sah gestern komisch aus. Geht's ihm nicht gut? (Werner looked funny yesterday. Does he not feel well?) "Der ist in letzter Zeit krass drauf. Lass ihn am besten in Ruhe." (He behaves a little bit odd recently. Best to leave him alone.)

These are not the best examples, but I hope you get the idea.

Answer 3

According to German wiktionary: (translations below each line)

Bedeutungen:
(Meanings)
[1] extrem, besonders intensiv
(extreme, very intense)
[2] (umgangssprachlich Ausruf der Überraschung)
(colloquial expression of surprise)