3 Ways to Say Hello in German

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3 Ways to Say Hello in German
3 Ways to Say Hello in German
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Knowing basic German greetings is important if you live, go on vacation or work in Germany. As with most cultures, German distinguishes between formal greetings and ones that you can use with friends and family. This article will tell you how to say hello in German in almost any way possible.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Formal greetings in German

Say Hello in German Step 1
Say Hello in German Step 1

Step 1. Know your interlocutor

Say these phrases when greeting co-workers and people you don't know well. Most of these greetings are related to the time of day.

  • "Guten Morgen": Good morning!

    It is usually used until around noon. In some areas of Germany, it only says until 10:00 in the morning

  • "Guten Tag": Good morning!

    This expression is generally used in the hours between noon and six in the afternoon

  • "Guten Abend": Good evening.

    This greeting is usually used after 6pm

  • If you are writing, remember that all nouns in German must be written with a capital letter.
Say Hello in German Step 2
Say Hello in German Step 2

Step 2. Go for pleasantries

Often, in Italian, asking a question is a polite way to say "Hi!". In German it works the same way.

  • "Wie geht es Ihnen?": How are you? (formal)
  • "Geht es Ihnen gut?": Are you okay?

  • "Sehr erfreut": Nice to meet you.

    • To answer: "Gut, danke": Well, thanks.

      "Es geht mir sehr gut": I'm really fine.

      "Ziemlich gut": I'm pretty good.

  • If you are asked such a question, it is customary to answer with "Und Ihnen?": And you? (formal).
Say Hello in German Step 3
Say Hello in German Step 3

Step 3. Know the appropriate physical greetings

In each culture or region, there is a different standard of greeting, which can be bowing, hugging, or shaking hands. Germany is a bit different than the rest of Europe.

  • People in Germany usually prefer to greet unfamiliar people with handshakes, instead of kissing on the cheek, which is customary in much of Europe; however, kissing on the cheek is still a common greeting in many German-speaking countries.
  • The rules regarding the number of kisses to give and knowing when and who to kiss change from place to place. When you first meet someone, you can usually just shake their hand. Then watch how other people interact. You will quickly find the role model.

Method 2 of 3: Informal greetings

Say Hello in German Step 4
Say Hello in German Step 4

Step 1. Use informal phrases when greeting family and friends

Some of the following greetings are used in most regions of Germany.

  • "Hallo!" means "hello!" and it is the most used greeting.
  • "Morgen," "Tag," and "'n Abend" are shortened versions of the above greetings related to the time of day.
  • "Sei gegrüßt": Welcome.

  • "Seid gegrüßt": Welcome.

    • "Grüß Dich" can be translated as "Ti salute" in Italian. Use this expression only if you really know the person you are talking to.
    • "ß" is sometimes spelled "ss", and that's how it is pronounced.
    Say Hello in German Step 5
    Say Hello in German Step 5

    Step 2. Ask questions

    To ask someone how they are, you have two different options (just like in Italian)

    • "Wie geht es dir?": How are you? (informal).

    • "Wie geht's?": How's it going?.

      • To answer: "Es geht mir gut": Good

        "Nicht schlecht": Not bad.

    • To ask the other: "Und dir?": And you? (informal)

    Method 3 of 3: Regional Differences

    Say Hello in German Step 6
    Say Hello in German Step 6

    Step 1. Familiarize yourself with regional phrases

    Germany has a rich and varied history and, as a result, uses different phrases and idioms in different areas

    • "Moin Moin!" or just "Moin!" is another way to say "Hello!" in northern Germany, Hamburg, eastern Friesland and neighboring areas. It is a greeting that is good for everyone, all day long.
    • "Grüß Gott" translates as "May God greet you" and is considered a way to say "hello" in southern Germany, Bavaria.
    • "Servus!" it is another greeting that you will only hear in southern Germany; translates as "hello".

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