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If your teenage years are already a few years behind you, you probably don’t know what “vallah” means. Don’t worry, we’ll tell you what young people mean when they use this exclamation and where it comes from.
Youth language: What does “vallah” mean?
In youth language, the word “vallah” has become an integral part of everyday speech. The expression originates from Arabic.
- ‘Vallah’ means “I swear to God,” “I swear!” or “By God!” The Arabic exclamation “Wahayat Allah” – “by the living God” – has a similar meaning.
- When you use “vallah” in a sentence, it means that you are very serious about what you are saying, i.e. you are swearing. The word can also be used to ask whether someone is swearing or really serious about something.
- In youth language, the term is often used playfully or exaggeratedly to emphasize statements without actually meaning a religious oath. Nevertheless, the origin of the word remains religious.
- You can insert “Vallah” at the beginning or end of a sentence.
- Example sentences: “I didn’t lie to you, vallah!”, “The concert was terrible, vallah!”, “Vallah, you’re like a brother to me!”, “You are an honorable man/woman, vallah,” “He’s totally bugged, vallah!” or “Vallah, are you serious?”
- In German colloquial language, both spellings with “w” (“wallah”) and ‘v’ (“vallah”) are common. This is because the Arabic “w” often sounds like a soft “v” in German – so both variants are correct and have the same meaning.
Vallah: The origin of the youth word
The word “vallah” was probably introduced into German youth language by young people of Arabic or Turkish origin, similar to “Habibi,” “Abi,” or “Mashallah.” However, it has now become established among teenagers from all cultures.
- Over time, the term spread to many regions and is now also used by young people without an Arabic background – mostly as an expression of honesty, surprise, or emphasis.
- In the Islamic faith, an oath to God – i.e., “wallah” – is considered a sacred affirmation. Those who take this oath should only do so in serious situations, as lying under an oath to Allah is considered a grave sin.
- In a religious context, it is expected that the expression is not used lightly, but only when one is actually telling the truth or making a serious promise. For this reason, many devout Muslims are critical of the excessive or jocular use of “vallah” in everyday life.
Variants and related expressions
In addition to the simple “Vallah,” there are several extended forms in Arabic that reinforce the statement or make it more solemn:
- “Wallah billah” means: “I swear by God, the Almighty.”
- “Wallahi” – a grammatical variant with the same meaning.
- “Billahi” or “Tallahi” – other forms of oath used in certain dialects or religious contexts.
