: Common in Southern Germany and Austria for both "Hello" and "Goodbye".
In colloquial German, abbreviations and shorthand forms—especially from digital communication—are common. One such informal marker is “vk.” It appears in messages and social-media contexts with a few different meanings depending on region, platform, and conversational context. This essay explains the main uses, origins, and pragmatic effects of “vk,” with examples and brief guidance on when to use or avoid it. colloquial german vk