Betrunken vs. blau vs. besoffen
The German language offers numerous informal and formal ways to say someone is drunk or inebriated. Among them, betrunken, blau, and besoffen are commonly used, but they differ in tone, context, and level of formality.
Betrunken
A2Betrunken is the standard and neutral term for being drunk. It is appropriate for formal or informal contexts and does not carry any judgment or slang-like connotations.
Er war nach dem Weinfest betrunken.
(He was drunk after the wine festival.)
Die Polizei überprüfte, ob der Fahrer betrunken war.
(The police checked if the driver was drunk.)
Ich war noch nie so betrunken in meinem Leben.
(I've never been so drunk in my life.)
Blau
B1Blau is an informal, colloquial term for being drunk. It is more playful and humorous, often used among friends or in relaxed settings.
Nach nur zwei Bier war er schon blau.
(After just two beers, he was already drunk.)
Gestern war ich total blau bei der Party.
(Yesterday, I was totally drunk at the party.)
Geh nicht zu tief ins Glas, sonst bist du gleich blau!
(Don’t drink too much, or you’ll be drunk right away!)
Besoffen
B2Besoffen is a highly informal and slightly vulgar term for being heavily drunk. It implies a lack of control and is often less polite, reserved for casual or critical situations.
Er kam völlig besoffen nach Hause und fiel sofort ins Bett.
(He came home completely drunk and fell straight into bed.)
Die Gruppe war so besoffen, dass sie nichts mehr mitbekam.
(The group was so drunk that they didn’t notice anything anymore.)
Ich kann nicht glauben, wie besoffen er letzte Nacht war.
(I can’t believe how drunk he was last night.)
Summary
In German, betrunken is the standard, neutral term for being drunk and suitable for most situations. Blau is informal and often used humorously or in friendly contexts. Meanwhile, besoffen is a more vulgar and critical term, often implying heavy drunkenness or irresponsibility. Choosing the right word depends on context, tone, and the intended level of politeness.