"Small talk" is commonly used as a loan phrase in modern German. One might as well say that American English has no word for the first year of school. "Quatsc

"Small talk" is commonly used as a loan phrase in modern German. One might as well say that American English has no word for the first year of school. "Quatschen" is also pretty close to the meaning of "small talk" (with a slightly more negative / playful connotation -- "blabbing"): http://dict.leo.org/?lp=ende&search=quatschen http://dict.leo.org/?lp=ende&search=quatschen