Most non-native German speakers have learned the language from textbooks and classes, and while talking to native Austrians, they are likely to come across a wide range of sounds and expressions they have never heard before.

Many of those unusual sounds, often known as discourse markers, are used to show feelings like surprise or excitement or to check if the person you are talking to is listening. 

Here are 11 of the most common sounds Austrians use in their casual conversations.

Gell. This sound is commonly used in Austria and mainly in Carinthia, in the south of the country. Some people actually use it after almost every sentence, and this without even realising it. 

“Gell” does not really mean anything but often functions as a confirmation request for a question. For example, in Carinthia, it would be typical to say, “Es ist spät, gell?” which could translate to “It is late, isn’t it?” in English.

Hä. This is a word you will not find in German textbooks, but using “hä” is definitely a way to sound more Austrian in your conversations.

Much like the English word “huh?”, you can use “hä?” to express surprise or confusion.

If a colleague ask you if you like working overtime a “hä?” is probably an expected response.

Eh. This is used to emphasize a statement or to show that you agree with something. It is similar to saying “yeah” or “sure” in English.

You can, for example, say “Das passt eh” (That is fine, yeah).

Nah. This is a typical sound you will hear from many Austrians. This little sound can sometimes refer to a whole sentence, like the question ‘Wie geht’s dir?’ which means ‘How are you?’ in English.

It is actually quite a time-saver since you just need to mumble ‘nah’ instead of using actual words to ask how another person feels.

Saying “nah” is also an informal way of saying “no” or “not really” in response to a question or statement.

Schon. Schon translates to “already” in English. It is used a lot in everyday conversations.

If someone asks if you have seen a movie, you can answer, “Ja, habe ich schon gesehen,” meaning you have already seen it.

You can also use “schon” to reinforce a statement, such as when  saying “Das wird schon klappen,” which means “It will be fine.”

Sometimes, “schon” is also used to show a bit of impatience, you can for example say “Komm schon” when you want someone to hurry up.

Oida. Oida could be translated to “old man” in English, but it rarely means old man or old one when people actually use it.

In general, many young Austrians like using “oida.” The term has its origin in Vienna, and in the past, it was mainly used there. However, in the last decades, oida has become increasingly popular all around the country.

Naja. This is often used in daily conversations in Austria and it can be translated to “well” or “oh well” in English. It can be used when you are not too excited about something or want to downplay a situation.

For example, if you did not have the best of days, you might say “Naja, es war okay” (Well, it was okay). Or if you just accept something but are not that happy about it you can say “Naja, das ist eben so” which means “Well, that is just how it is”.

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Heast. “Heast” is used similarly to “oida’” and can express both positive and negative feelings in various situations. For example, you might say “Heast, ich hab Durst” (Hey, I am thirsty) or “Heast, ich liebe es!” (Hey, I love it!).

Alta. “Alta” is used mainly by younger generations. It is similar to saying “dude” or “man” in English. You can for example say “Alta, wie gehts?” which means “Dude, how are you?”.

Ja. Austrians like to say “Ja” a lot, which means “Yes.” But they do not only use it to say yes; they also use it as a filler word in many sentences. It is common to start a sentence with “Ja” even though it is not necessary.

For example, Austrians might say ‘Ja, wie geht’s dir denn?’ which means ‘Yes, how are you then?’ even though there was no need to add ‘yes’ before the question.

Voll. This is quite commonly used in Austria, especially by younger generations. “Voll” could be translated to “really” or “totally” in English and it is used to intensify or emphasise something, also similar to how you might use “so” or “super” in English. 

You can for example say “Das ist voll gut” which means “That is really good”.

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