German Phrase
Läuft.
Meaning
Literally, ‘Läuft’ means ‘(it) runs’ or ‘(it) is running.’ In everyday slang it is used to say that something is going well, that everything is fine, or that a plan is on track.
When to use
Use ‘Läuft.’ as a short answer when someone asks how something is progressing (e.g., a project, a trip, a workout). It’s also a popular youth expression to give a quick thumbs‑up, similar to ‘All good!’ in English.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Läuft
Verb conjugation – laufen
‘Läuft’ is the third‑person singular present tense of the verb ‘laufen’ (to run, to go). The subject is often omitted when it is clear from context.
Impersonal use
In colloquial German the verb can stand alone without an explicit subject, similar to English ‘It’s going fine.’
Pronunciation tip
The ‘ä’ is pronounced like the ‘e’ in ‘bet’, and the final ‘t’ is pronounced clearly.
🗨In Conversation
Wie läuft das Projekt?
How is the project going?
Läuft.
It’s going fine.
✕Common Mistakes
Wie geht es dir? Läufst.
‘Läufst’ is the second‑person singular (you run). The phrase ‘Läuft.’ is third‑person singular or impersonal, not a direct address.
Wie läuft das Projekt? Laufen.
Using the infinitive ‘Laufen’ alone is ungrammatical in this context; you need a conjugated form.
Das Ergebnis ist läuftes.
German does not add a noun ending here; ‘Läuftes’ is not a word.
↔Alternatives
Es läuft.
It runs / It’s going fine.
Alles läuft gut.
Everything is going well.
Geht klar.
All good.
Cultural Tip
Among German teenagers and young adults, ‘Läuft’ has become a catch‑all positive response, often accompanied by a nod or a thumbs‑up. In formal settings you would stick to the full sentence ‘Es läuft gut.’ The slang usage is more common in spoken language, social media, and casual chats.