German words expats should know: Assi

The German slang word "Assi" or "Asi" can be used to describe something crummy, low-quality or bad, or a person who is judged to be behaving in an "anti-social" way. "Assi" is a derogatory word often used to describe working-class people and stereotypes of working-class behaviour.

Assi meaning

An abbreviation of the word “asozial”, "Assi" is a pejorative, classist, slang term used either as an adjective to describe a big range of negative behaviours or as a noun for someone who behaves in an "anti-social" way.

Asozial translates literally to “asocial” or “antisocial”, but in German, the word has a broader definition that is generally used to refer to someone who is uneducated, deemed uncouth, often young, likely unemployed, and of a "lower social class".

In its criticism of the term, the German youth support organisation Matrix defines "Assi" as "someone who is incapable of living in a society and lives as an outsider on the fringes of society".  In British English, the closest translation might be the pejorative term “chav”, or in American English you might say “trailer trash”, although the meaning differs slightly.

Asi or assi?

Since "Assi" or "Asi" are both a shortened version of "asozial", it’s common to see both spellings: with a single or a double S. 

It’s also common to hear it used in lots of different ways, and the intended meaning often reflects the prejudices of the person using it. So, while some people might use it to describe someone who never completed higher education, doesn’t work and instead draws social security benefits, others might use it to pass judgment on people wearing fake designer clothes and driving flashy cars. 

Older people might use it to describe youths smoking, drinking and showing off in the street, while younger people might describe someone else as an Assi if they step in and ask them to keep the noise down. That person who took a parking spot may be accused of being an "Assi", a teen may accuse a strict teacher in school of being an "Assi", a tenant might accuse neighbours who don't sort their rubbish correctly of being "Assis".

Assi is also used as an adjective to describe objects or taste - for instance, cheap-looking or a certain style may be described as “assi”. 

No one wants to be called an Assi

So, there you have it, Assi may be used to describe a jerk, a layabout, someone who is a bit annoying or an out-and-out criminal and a word with complex socioeconomic origins.