Looking for an apartment in Germany? Short rental ads are packed with abbreviations that confuse newcomers. Below is a worked example, then a full A–Z list with English translations.

Modern portals often spell things out; newspaper-style and older listings still use heavy abbreviation.

Example German rental ad

Here is a typical compact ad — and how to read it:

Example of a German apartment rental ad with abbreviations

  • 3-Zimmer-Wohnung, 90 m² — 3-room apartment, 90 square metres
  • Bj 1933 — year built 1933 (Baujahr)
  • 3. OG — 3rd floor (Obergeschoss)
  • Fahrstuhl — elevator
  • Duschbad — bathroom with shower
  • Balkon — balcony
  • Parkett — parquet flooring
  • Gas-ZH — gas central heating (Gas-Zentralheizung)
  • EBK — fitted kitchen (Einbauküche)
  • Kalt: 500 € — cold rent (Kaltmiete / KM), excluding utilities
  • NK 200 € — service charges / utilities (Nebenkosten) €200
  • KT 1 500 € — deposit (Kaution) €1,500
  • Energieverbrauchausweis / 80 kWh/(m² · a) / Energieeffizienzklasse B — energy certificate details
  • provisionsfrei — no estate-agent fee for the tenant

The full A–Z list of abbreviations (German + English) is in the table below.