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Turkish word wins German slang award

Hannah Cleaver
Hannah Cleaver - [email protected]
Turkish word wins German slang award
Cool young people. Photo: obs/Langenscheidt KG via DPA

Germany's 'Youth Word of the Year' comes from a Turkish word meaning boss or chief. 'Babo' is the best teenage slang word of 2013, according to a vote organised by dictionary publisher Langenscheidt.

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It beat 'fame' - used not only to mean famous, but also cool - and 'gediegen', a German word meaning dignified or genuine, but used to mean cool or relaxed. 

In fourth place came the phrase 'in your face' which is used by German teenagers as it is in English as an expression of victorious defiance.

Fifth was 'hakuna matata' which comes from the Swahili for no worries - and is used in the Disney film The Lion King.

Langenscheidt worked with two teen magazines and a youth trade fair organizer to put together a jury to select the word of the year, after inviting young people to suggest and vote for their favourite suggestions.

Last year the winner was 'yolo' - the English acronym for you only live once.

Langenscheidt has announced the youth word of the year since 2008, when it kicked things off with 'Gammelfleischparty' - which literally means rotting meat party but is used to describe over-30s discos or other parties for 'old people'.

READ MORE: Youth Word of the Year shows 'problem' with trendy English

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