Sprechen Sie Deutsch: How to Talk Like a Party Pro in Berlin

As in most major cities, clubbing in Berlin is an international affair. Fortunately for American partiers, English is the default language spoken almost everywhere, whether you meet a Spanish DJ, Italian tourist, Japanese student, or Swedish model.

With so many accents in one place, you’re bound to hear the occasional phrase that sounds like a linguistic hiccup to your America ears. Understanding these nuances can mean the difference between looking like a noob and acting like a proud party veteran. Here are a few of the most common ones.

Open Air
As literal as it sounds, an open air is an outdoor party. Berlin is full of them all summer long. Open air can refer to the venue or to the event itself.
Example: Are you going to see Dixon play at the Innervisions open air this Sunday?

Running Order
What we would call set times, the running order is quite simply the schedule of what time the DJs are playing. The running order is particularly important in Berlin for catching the performer you want to see, since parties sometimes run for two to three days at a time.
Example: Did you see the running order at Sisyphos? I’m never going home this weekend.

Queue
British English influences a lot of what you hear spoken in Berlin—so much so, that you’re sure to come across dozens of Germans whom you would swear must be from London. Queue is simply the British word for the line to get into a club, and it can be used as a noun or verb.
Example: The queue to get into Watergate is ridiculous. I’m not going to queue for an hour just to hear one DJ.

Make Party
The literal translation of the German party machen, you will hear locals say make party when referring to the act of going out. Unlike these other terms, it is impossible for a non-native German speaker to say this without sounding like a tool. So don’t use it in conversation, but be prepared to understand what it means.
Example: This weekend, we will make party at the open air. Hopefully the queue is not long.

Long Drink
Long drink refers to any drink order that has an “and” in the middle (vodka and cranberry, Jack and Coke, etc.). This is different from a cocktail, which has more than two ingredients.
Example: Welcome to the open air! All long drinks are €6.

Sekt
Pronounced “zekt,” this is the German word for sparkling white wine—but don’t expect to be popping bottles like in American clubs. Sekt is usually served auf eis (on ice) in clubs.
Example: I have a headache from all the sekt auf eis I drank last night.

End
With no liquor laws to tell clubs when to stop serving and close their doors, parties have a tendency to run until the crowds—or lack thereof—dictate that they’re over. That is why the final DJ on the running order plays until end. Mind you, end can come anywhere between four and 12 hours from the listed start time.
Example: DVS1 is playing until end at Berghain. Better take Monday off.

Cronge
The active present participle of “to cringe,” this non sequitur expression favored by Irish expats is used as a term of both compliment and derision, often at the same time. See also: cronger.
Example: Spilling the contents of your tote bag in front of the door guy was serious cronge, dude.

Session
To be out partying. One might declare sesh in effect when planning an extended time out. One can also be on the session when out partying.
Example: Are you going to be on the session this weekend? I sure am.