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Coffee mug with vinca flowers and note Guten Morgen--good morning in German
By Aromie Kim Last updated:

31 Ways to Say Good Morning in German and Other Morning Vocabulary

You’ve done your daily routine—you’ve made your bed, brushed your teeth and eaten Frühstück.

But no morning truly feels like one until you or someone else says so directly, with a friendly “Good morning!”

And depending on the social context and the German-speaking region you’re in, you may have to be selective about your first greeting of the day.

In this post, I’ll cover some of the more popular ways to say “good morning” in German, plus a few regional variations!

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Guten Morgen : The Basic “Good Morning” in German

This may be one of the first German phrases you’ve ever learned. It’s the most standard German morning greeting that can be used anywhere.

It’s typical to greet someone with Guten Morgen before 11 a.m. You can also say just Morgen in more informal situations (or if you feel a little too lazy to muster the Guten).

Formal Ways to Say Good Morning in German

Want a morning greeting beyond Guten Morgen? These greetings are the best options when you’re in polite company, like with your boss or someone who is older or has a higher status than you.

Casual Ways to Say Good Morning in German

Hanging out with friends in the morning? Use these casual greetings, instead!

Regional Variations on German Good Mornings

Where you are in the German-speaking world might affect how you say good morning. Here are a few regional variations you’d hear in different regions and countries.

Moin (Hello)

Where it’s used: Northwestern Germany, Hamburg

This doesn’t just resemble the sound effect of a bouncing cartoon character. Moin is a standard, casual greeting common in parts of northern Germany, such as Lower Saxony and Hamburg. It can be used in the afternoon and night, not just in the morning.

Locals may cheerfully say Moin Moin , which is more informal and friendlier in tone. You can also use  Moinsen with your pals.

I’ll be honest, this is probably my favorite greeting of the list!

Mojen (Morning)

Where it’s used: Berlin

Berlin is the capital of Germany, and being such a large city filled with all kinds of people, it’s not surprising that there is such a thing as a Berlin dialect (known as Berlinerisch). Full of fun phrases and slang, this dialect is sometimes noted to be rather brusque and witty.

Mojen is a daytime greeting sometimes used by locals in the bustling metropolis. Being short and to the point, it’s likely favored by those busy folks who want to shoot a quick greeting while still moving along.

Moagn (Morning)

Where it’s used: Austria

No, it’s not a typo. Austria has its own dialect, and Moagn is an Austrian pronunciation of Morgen!

It’s absolutely fine to say Morgen as well, although Moagn may help you fit in just a little bit more when you’re walking down those pleasant Austrian streets. (I used it often when I visited Vienna years ago, and it was always nice when a local responded positively to it!)

It’s a little challenging to say correctly. Make sure you drop the hard enunciation of the r in Morgen, so that your tongue wouldn’t form a curled position.

Guete Morge  (Good morning)

Where it’s used: Switzerland

Did you know that the most commonly spoken language in Switzerland is German? There’s a slight catch, though: The German used there is quite unique, enough to form a dialect known as Swiss German.

So it’s natural that the typical Swiss German way of saying “good morning” isn’t Guten Morgen. Guete Morge is what you’re more likely to hear, and it’s appropriate for both informal and formal contexts.

Pay attention to that first e in Guete—you’re not just saying Gute. I find that little e helps to make the whole phrase sound more sprightly than Guten Morgen. You can use this children’s song as a guide!

Morsche (Morning)

Where it’s used: West central Germany, the Rhine

This is a greeting common to parts of central Germany, particularly in the west where the unique Hessian dialect is used.

Morsche sounds very similar to the standard German word morsch, which means “brittle” or “derelict.” The difference in pronunciation is quite subtle, so I recommend you use this greeting in the regions where you know it will be understood.

Grüß Gott (God bless)

Where it’s used: Southern Germany, Austria, Bavaria

This curious greeting is common in the south, but if spoken anywhere else, it may cause some misinterpretation.

The full phrase from which Grüß Gott is derived from is Grüß dich Gott, which translates literally to “Greet God” but basically means “may God bless you.” The religious connotation stems from the history of Catholicism in the regions.

Nowadays, the phrase is more or less a casual greeting that equates to “good day” and is appropriate for most situations.

Servus (Hello)

Where it’s used: Southern Germany, Austria, Bavaria, Switzerland

This greeting is derived from the Latin servus, which a long time ago was used respectfully to mean “at your service.” Now, however, Servus as used by Germans has become an informal way to say hello or goodbye to someone.

So while it doesn’t strictly mean “good morning,” Servus is a common daytime greeting that may be used in place of other phrases.

Other Ways to Say Good Morning in German

These aren’t specific to mornings, but you can use them at any point of the day!

Guten Tag (Hello/good afternoon)

This phrase works so long as the sun’s up and shining. You can use it when the hour is still in the a.m. zone, but it’s preferable to use it after 11 o’ clock and closer to or after noon.

To be more casual, you can simply say a quick Tag. You may also want to say Tach in northern Germany or even the cutesy Tagchen in Brandenburg and Saxony.

Hab einen schönen Tag (Have a great day)

After a pleasant exchange with someone and just before either of you take leave, it may be nice to throw in a Hab einen schönen Tag to end on a friendly note.

Notice that Hab is the imperative form of the verb haben (to have)!

You can also shorten it to say Schönen Tag noch , which literally means “Good day (yet).”

Raus aus den Federn (Rise and shine)

Literally meaning, “out of the feathers,” this phrase may sound like a death knell to the groggy recipients who are content to lay in bed. It’s probably not a greeting that you should expect to be received warmly.

Regardless, if you’re the morning bird in the group, feel free to use this greeting (command, really) to rouse your friends and family members.

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Related Morning Phrases and Vocabulary

Keep your morning discussions going with these phrases and vocabulary words for German mornings:

Morning Routine Vocabulary

Breakfast Vocabulary

Heading to Work / School

More Morning Vocabulary

 

“Good morning” phrases make up only a fraction of the vast pool of German greetings.

And although it may be only one or a few words long, that simple salutation can go a long way in making your (and someone else’s) day!

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