krass

„krass“ derives from Latin „crassus“ ('thick, coarse, crude') and was partly blended with German „grässlich“ (ghastly). Since the late 18th century it has been attested as an intensifying power-word, especially in student slang (cf. Grimm: a superlative power-word popular in certain circles, particularly among students). In today's youth and colloquial language it denotes something especially intense or extreme and also serves as an exclamation of astonishment ('Krass, Alter!'), usable both positively and negatively.