Introduction: Why are greetings important?
Greetings are an essential part of everyday communication in German-speaking countries. Just like in English, it’s important to know whether to use formal (Sie) or informal (du) expressions, depending on who you are speaking to. German greetings may also vary slightly by region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and time of day.
Greetings in German
Basic Informal Greetings (When talking to friends, family, or peers)
These expressions are used in casual settings, where the “du” form is appropriate.
| Greeting | Meaning | Pronunciation | Usage |
| Hallo | Hello / Hi | ha-LOH | Most common informal greeting, neutral in tone. |
| Hi | Hi | like in English | Very casual, used among young people. |
| Servus | Hello / Bye (Southern Germany & Austria) | ZER-voos | Common in Bavaria and Austria. |
| Moin | Hello (Northern Germany) | MOYN | Regional greeting used at any time of day. |
Example:
- Hallo, wie geht’s dir? (Hello, how are you?)
- Hi, alles klar? (Hi, everything alright?)
Basic Formal Greetings (When addressing strangers, elders, or in business settings)
These expressions are polite and more appropriate in professional or formal environments. Use Sie with these greetings.
| Greeting | Meaning | Pronunciation | Usage |
| Guten Morgen | Good Morning | GOO-ten MOR-gen | Used until around 10-11 AM. |
| Guten Tag | Good Day / Hello | GOO-ten TAHK | Used throughout the day (formal hello). |
| Guten Abend | Good Evening | GOO-ten AH-bent | Used after 5-6 PM. |
| Grüß Gott | God greet you | GRUESS got | Common in southern regions (Bavaria, Austria). |
Example:
- Guten Tag, wie geht es Ihnen? (Good day, how are you?)
Tip: In professional settings, when in doubt, use Guten Tag as it is neutral and works for most situations.
Introducing Yourself After Greetings
After greeting someone, you’ll likely introduce yourself.
- Ich heiße… (My name is…)
- Ich bin… (I am…)
Example: - Guten Morgen, ich heiße Paul Müller. Und Sie? (Good morning, my name is Paul Müller. And you?)
Farewells in German
Basic Informal Farewells
These are used in friendly, casual situations where du is used.
| Farewell | Meaning | Pronunciation | Usage |
| Tschüss | Bye | CHUESS (like “choose”) | Most common casual farewell. |
| Ciao | Bye (borrowed from Italian) | CHOW | Informal, trendy among younger people. |
| Mach’s gut | Take care | MAHKS goot | Friendly farewell, meaning “take care.” |
| Bis später | See you later | BISS SHPAY-ter | Casual, for when you’ll see someone later. |
| Bis dann | See you then | BISS DUN | Used to say goodbye when a next meeting is expected. |
Example:
- Tschüss! Bis später! (Bye! See you later!)
- Mach’s gut, bis morgen! (Take care, see you tomorrow!)
Basic Formal Farewells
These are appropriate for professional or polite settings.
| Farewell | Meaning | Pronunciation | Usage |
| Auf Wiedersehen | Goodbye | owf VEE-der-zay-en | Standard polite farewell. |
| Auf Wiederhören | Goodbye (on the phone) | owf VEE-der-hur-en | Specifically used in phone conversations. |
| Schönen Tag noch | Have a nice day | SHER-nen TAHK noh | Wishing someone a nice day (polite). |
| Schönen Abend noch | Have a nice evening | SHER-nen AH-bent noh | Used in the evening. |
Example:
- Auf Wiedersehen, Frau Müller! (Goodbye, Mrs. Müller!)
- Schönen Abend noch und bis morgen! (Have a nice evening, see you tomorrow!)
Regional Variations and Cultural Notes
Bavaria & Austria:
People often use “Servus” or “Grüß Gott” both for greetings and farewells.
- Example: Servus, bis später! (Bye, see you later!)
Northern Germany:
The greeting “Moin” is used all day, regardless of the time.
- Example: Moin! Wie läuft’s? (Hi! How’s it going?)
On the phone:
- Use “Auf Wiederhören” to end phone conversations instead of “Auf Wiedersehen.”
Small Talk:
Germans value punctuality and being concise. Therefore, while it’s polite to ask “Wie geht es Ihnen?” (How are you?), detailed personal questions are often reserved for closer relationships.
Combining Greetings and Farewells with Politeness
It’s always a good idea to include polite words and phrases to leave a positive impression.
- Bitte – Please
- Danke – Thank you
- Entschuldigung – Excuse me / Sorry
Example: - Guten Tag, Entschuldigung für die Verspätung. (Good day, sorry for being late.)
In farewells:
- Danke für Ihre Zeit. Auf Wiedersehen! (Thank you for your time. Goodbye!)
Dialogue Examples
Informal Conversation
A: Hi, wie geht’s dir? (Hi, how are you?)
B: Alles gut, und dir? (All good, and you?)
A: Auch gut. Tschüss, bis später! (Also good. Bye, see you later!)
B: Mach’s gut! (Take care!)
Formal Conversation
A: Guten Morgen, Herr Schneider. Wie geht es Ihnen? (Good morning, Mr. Schneider. How are you?)
B: Danke, gut. Und Ihnen? (Thank you, I’m fine. And you?)
A: Auch gut. Schönen Tag noch! (Also good. Have a nice day!)
B: Auf Wiedersehen! (Goodbye!)
Summary: Key Takeaways
Know when to use informal (du) or formal (Sie) greetings and farewells.
- Use du for friends, family, and people of similar age.
- Use Sie for strangers, elders, or in professional settings.
Match greetings to the time of day:
- Morning: Guten Morgen
- Afternoon: Guten Tag
- Evening: Guten Abend
Use regional greetings to blend in (like Moin or Servus).
End politely:
- Auf Wiedersehen (Goodbye)
- Tschüss (Bye, informal)
Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks:
A: ____________, Frau Meier. Wie geht es Ihnen?
B: Danke, gut. Und ____________?
Match the greeting with the time:
a) Guten Morgen
b) Guten Abend
c) Guten Tag
- 6 PM
- 9 AM
- 2 PM
Create your own dialogue: Write a short conversation using at least one formal and one informal greeting.