German Greetings

Free German Lessons - # 1 - Learn to say hello

There are quite a few German greetings, some are formal while others are fairly casual. Additionally, you'll find different ways to say Guten Tag in the north and the south of Germany.

Friedrichstadt in Schleswig-Holstein says Moin Moin

Standard German greetings

Deutsch	English
Guten Morgen	Good morning
Guten Tag	Good day
Guten Abend	Good evening
Gute Nacht	Good night

You use these greetings in slightly formal situations, when you enter a shop, or to greet people you don't know yet.
There are no strict rules about the exact time when you change from saying Guten Morgen to Guten Tag and to Guten Abend. Generally, you say Guten Tag from noon to 6 pm.

A handshake "Handschlag" is fairly common in Germany, especially in business meetings. Friends give each other a hug, or a kiss on the cheek when they greet "begrüssen" each other.

Notice the missing n in Gute Nacht? That's not a typo. It is because die Nacht is a feminine noun and goes with gute, while der Morgen, der Abend, der Tag are masculine and use guten.

Informal and local German Greetings

Deutsch	English
Moin Moin	Although Moin Moin sounds a little like Morgen, people in Hamburg, East Frisia and parts of Schleswig-Holstein use it all day to greet people, even at night.
Grüß Gott	Like Moin Moin, Grüß Gott is used at any time of the day in Bavaria and in the south of Baden-Württemberg.
Hallo	This is a word that sounds familiar, right? It is the most simple and casual way to say hello, especially to people you know.
Grüß Dich	Literally translated "greet you" is a German phrase to say hello to someone you know well. Use it only when you are "per Du" with someone.

You can use Moin Moin and Grüß Gott whether you are "per Du" or "per Sie" with someone. Don't know what I am talking about? Check out the difference of saying "Du" or "Sie" on the Free German Lessons overview.

Although "Hallo" is fairly casual, it has become quite common to use "Hallo" in shops, at the doctor's, and restaurants.

German Greetings - How to say goodbye

Deutsch	English
Auf Wiedersehen	Goodbye - You never go wrong to say "Auf Wiedersehen", although it is slightly formal. A short form is to say just "Wiedersehen".
Tschüss	Very common and slightly informal way to say goodbye.
Ade	Used in Baden-Württemberg to say Auf Wiedersehen
Mach's gut	Literally translated "do well", you can use this to say bye to people you are "per Du" with.

You will hear more goodbye greetings when you are in Germany, "Ciao" or "Tschau", "bye-bye", "bis dann" are just a few of them.

Summary: Guten Tag and Auf Wiedersehen are the main phrases you should know, but I thought I tell about other phrases as well. You will hear them quite often.

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#1 Greetings | #2 Basic Words | #3 Phrases for travellers

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