{"id":93032,"date":"2024-02-22T20:02:44","date_gmt":"2024-02-23T01:02:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/german-greetings-say-hi-hello\/"},"modified":"2025-06-17T08:33:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T12:33:09","slug":"german-greetings-say-hi-hello","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/german\/german-greetings-say-hi-hello\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Say Hello in German"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hallo<\/em> (hello) may well have been the very first German word you learned.<\/p>\n

Even if you\u2019re just starting out with German, it\u2019ll be useful to have a look at a few more German greetings, or Gr\u00fc\u00dfe.<\/em><\/p>\n

In this post, you’ll learn how to say hello in German in multiple ways, including region-specific greetings and how to answer the phone.<\/p>\n

Once you learn these and your German goodbye expressions<\/a>, you’ll be off to a great start with your German conversation skills.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

How to Say Hello in German<\/h2>\n

\"two-young-female-colleagues-greeting-each-other\"<\/p>\n

The most straightforward way to say “hello” in German is h<\/strong>allo<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

As mentioned above, this is one of your typical German greetings. It’s nice and easy to pronounce, and suitable for just about every situation.<\/p>\n

Going Beyond “Hallo”<\/em>\u00a0<\/h2>\n

\"family-greeting-each-other-at-holiday-greeting\"<\/p>\n

While hallo <\/em>will work for most situations, there are many other German greetings you can use.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hi<\/em> \u2014 Hi
\n<\/em><\/h3>\n

Turns out Germans say this too! Go ahead and use Hi<\/em> when speaking with young people or in informal settings<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hey <\/em>\u2014 Hey<\/h3>\n

Yes, you can also just say Hey<\/em> to greet a friend or good acquaintance. Sometimes it\u2019s written and pronounced as He<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also Heda<\/strong>,<\/em> which means the same thing, though it isn\u2019t super common. The related Hoi<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0is another similar-sounding variant that\u2019s used more often in southern Germany.<\/p>\n

Hall\u00f6chen<\/em> \u2014 Hi there \/ Howdy-do<\/h3>\n

This is a somewhat flamboyant, friendly way to say hi. It’s a diminutive form of hallo, <\/em>so it’s a bit like saying “little hello.” Cute!<\/p>\n

Huhu<\/em> \u2014 Hiii\u00a0<\/h3>\n

This adorable word is a slang term for hi. Use it among close friends, when keeping things really casual.<\/p>\n

Other Common German Greetings<\/h2>\n

\"young-people-greeting-each-other-in-dorm\"<\/p>\n

When you want to get a little more specific than just a general “hello,” here are some other greetings you can turn to.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Guten Morgen <\/em>\u2014 Good morning<\/h3>\n

This is how you say “good morning” in German<\/a>, and is used exactly like the English greeting. It can also be shortened to just Morgen<\/strong>,<\/em> just like you’d say “Morning” for short in English.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Guten Abend <\/em>\u2014 Good evening<\/h3>\n

You can say this one in the evening<\/a>. It’s also used like the English version, which you use as a greeting, but not when saying goodbye.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Guten Tag<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>\u2014 Good day<\/h3>\n

Although the literal translation for\u00a0Guten Tag,<\/em> “Good day,” sounds antiquated in English nowadays, it’s still a very common greeting in German, if only slightly more formal.<\/p>\n

So when talking to someone you would call \u201cSir\u201d or \u201cMa\u2019am,\u201d Guten<\/em>\u00a0Tag<\/em> would be an appropriate greeting. There’s no direct equivalent of “Good afternoon” in German<\/a> so the closest thing you can say is Guten Tag.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Tag <\/em>\u2014 (Good) Day<\/h3>\n

Yes, Tag<\/em> does mean day, but it can also be used as a relaxed, casual greeting that’s even shorter than Guten Tag<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also Tagchen<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>if you\u2019d like to sound more friendly or playful. It literally translates to \u201clittle day\u201d (-chen<\/em> is a diminutive suffix, which makes things sound smaller, cuter or more affectionate<\/a>).<\/p>\n

It may also be pronounced Tachchen<\/em>\u00a0in certain regions outside mainland Germany.<\/p>\n

Guten Tag zusammen<\/em> \u2014 Hello, everyone<\/h3>\n

This formal greeting is used when you need to say hello to a group of people. Due to its formality, you might hear it in professional settings<\/strong> like business meetings, presentations or conferences.<\/p>\n

In less formal situations, you can just use Hallo zusammen<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sch\u00f6nen guten Tag<\/em> \u2014 Have a nice day<\/h3>\n

This is a polite greeting that’s commonly used in more formal settings<\/a>. Use it in business or professional contexts, or when addressing someone you don’t know well or who holds a higher position.<\/p>\n

Gute Nacht \u2014<\/em> Good night<\/h3>\n

You can use Gute Nacht<\/em><\/a> just as you would “Good night” in English\u2014right before going to bed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lange nicht gesehen<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Long time no see<\/h3>\n

You can say this contracted phrase by itself, or add the person\u2019s name and or a greeting like Hallo<\/em> beforehand, like this: Hallo Klaus, lange nicht gesehen!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

It can be used for pretty much anyone, but if you want to be a little more formal, you can say Wir haben uns lange nicht mehr gesehen<\/strong><\/em> (We haven\u2019t seen each other in a long time).<\/p>\n

If you’re speaking to someone on the phone, however, you need to get your senses right and use the verb h\u00f6ren<\/em> (to hear) instead: Lange nichts geh\u00f6rt!<\/strong> <\/em>(Been a while since we spoke!).<\/p>\n

Mahlzeit <\/em>\u2014 Mealtime \/ Enjoy your meal<\/h3>\n

A somewhat amusing colloquial greeting, Mahlzeit<\/em> originates from the complete phrase Gesegnete Mahlzeit,<\/em>\u00a0which means \u201cBlessed mealtime.\u201d<\/p>\n

Usually, you can greet someone with Mahlzeit<\/em>\u00a0around lunchtime, but in some places, you can use it as an all-day greeting. It\u2019s commonly used within the workplace between colleagues as everyone hurries off to grab a bite to eat.<\/p>\n

To respond, you can say Mahlzeit<\/em> right back or politely say danke.<\/em><\/p>\n

“How Are You?” in German<\/h2>\n

\"two-men-greeting-each-other\"<\/p>\n

Wie geht es dir? <\/em>\u2014 How are you?<\/h3>\n

Use dir<\/em>\u00a0when speaking to someone young or someone you know very well<\/a>. Ihnen<\/em>\u00a0is the appropriate formal address for a stranger, especially someone older, and people in positions of authority.<\/p>\n

In many English-speaking countries, it\u2019s typical to say \u201cHow are you?\u201d to everyone you speak with, including waitresses and store clerks. However, in Germany, this is not as common, so it\u2019s best to use this greeting with people you know<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Wie geht\u2019s? <\/em>\u2014 How’s it going?<\/h3>\n

Similar to Wie geht es dir<\/em>, but more casual<\/strong>. This essentially translates to \u201cWhat\u2019s happening?\u201d or \u201cHow\u2019s it going?\u201d (Geht\u2019s<\/em>\u00a0is a shortened form of geht es, <\/em>so Wie<\/em> geht\u2019s<\/em>? literally means \u201cHow goes it?\u201d)<\/p>\n

Use these greetings the same way you\u2019d use the equivalent English phrases. Perfect for your classmates and friends, potentially not cool with your new boss or super-strict professor.<\/p>\n

Was ist los? <\/em>\u2014 What’s up?<\/h3>\n

Colloquially, this question means the same as Wie geht\u2019s\u00ad <\/em>(What\u2019s up?\/How\u2019s it going?\/How\u2019s it hanging?). Again, fine to use with young people in casual conversation.<\/p>\n

However, Was ist los<\/em>? can also mean \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d especially when you add in a denn. <\/em>Was ist denn los?<\/em> usually means \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d and Was ist hier los?<\/em> can be used to ask \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong here?\u201d or “What’s going on here?”<\/p>\n

But don\u2019t worry: in conversation, you\u2019ll most likely be able to tell the difference between these questions by tone of voice and context.<\/p>\n

Alles klar? <\/em>\u2014 Everything alright?<\/h3>\n

Similar to Was ist los,<\/em> Alles klar<\/em> literally translates to \u201cEverything alright?\u201d However, it\u2019s often used as a casual greeting among young people.<\/p>\n

When used in that context, Alles klar<\/em> is basically the same as saying, \u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d or “All good?” in English.<\/p>\n

Na? <\/em>\u2014 Well? \/ How are you?\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Na<\/em> is one of those German words that you\u2019ll hear all the time because it has many different meanings<\/a> depending on how it’s said. Na!<\/em> can mean a friendly \u201cHey!\u201d Said inquiringly as Na<\/em>?,<\/em> you\u2019re essentially asking \u201cWell?\u201d or \u201cHow are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

To be a little more inquisitive, you can say Na, wie geht\u2019s?<\/em> (Hey, how are you?) or Na, wie l\u00e4uft\u2019s?<\/em> (Hey, how\u2019s it going?). And, conveniently enough, you can respond to these inquiries with, you guessed it: Na<\/em>! (I’m good!)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Regional Variations of Hello in German<\/h2>\n

\"young-woman-waving-on-webcam\"<\/p>\n

Moin<\/em> (Northern Germany)<\/h3>\n

Moin<\/em> is a casual way to say hello in northern Germany, and can also be used as a farewell. It\u2019s speculated that this word may have originated from the Dutch word mooi <\/em>or Low German word moi<\/em>, which basically translates to \u201cgood.\u201d<\/p>\n

You could also double-up and say Moin moin<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0to make your greeting more enthusiastic and cutesy.<\/p>\n

Servus <\/em>(Southern Germany)<\/h3>\n

This southern greeting can also be used as a goodbye. You might hear Servus<\/em> used in Bayern and Austria, as well as elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe.<\/p>\n

Servus<\/em> comes from Latin<\/a>, and as a greeting or goodbye it was originally a shortened version of the Latin phrase \u201cAt your service.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gr\u00fc\u00df Gott <\/em>(Southern Germany and Austria)<\/h3>\n

Gr\u00fc\u00df Gott<\/em> literally translates to \u201cGod greets you.\u201d<\/strong> This can seem like an old-fashioned way of saying hello to someone from northern Germany.\u00a0However, you\u2019ll definitely still hear it in places like Bayern and Austria<\/a>, so it\u2019s good to know in case you visit these locations.<\/p>\n

Gr\u00fc\u00df dich <\/em>(Austria and Switzerland)<\/h3>\n

This is another version of the original Gr\u00fc\u00df Gott<\/em> greeting, except this time the literal translation is “Greet you.”\u00a0Remember to only use\u00a0Gr\u00fc\u00df dich<\/em> with people you would address casually, and use Gr\u00fc\u00df Sie<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0for everyone else.<\/p>\n

Gria\u00df dich<\/em> (Bavaria and Austria)<\/h3>\n

This one’s pretty close to the previous greeting. It’s an informal way to greet someone in Bavaria and Austria, especially among friends and family.<\/p>\n

Gr\u00fcezi <\/em>(Switzerland)<\/h3>\n

This is technically a contracted version of Gott gr\u00fc\u00dft Sie<\/em>, which is also literally translated to “God greets you.” It’s mostly used in Switzerland.<\/p>\n

Habidere <\/em>(Austria)<\/h3>\n

Largely regional to Austria, Habidere<\/em> is a contraction of the phrase Ich habe die Ehre,<\/em>\u00a0meaning \u201cI have the honor.\u201d<\/strong> This fancy, rather chivalrous greeting has shortened over time to become Habidere, <\/em>which is more commonly used in informal contexts.<\/p>\n

In fact, some folks may find that Habidere<\/em> is still too long, so they just say D\u2019Ehre<\/strong>.<\/em> Seems like laziness is a major factor in the formation of colloquial language.<\/p>\n

How to Answer the Phone in German<\/h2>\n

\"young-woman-on-phone-in-office\"<\/p>\n

Many German speakers answer the phone with a simple Hallo?<\/strong><\/em> (Hello?) or Ja?<\/strong><\/em> (Yes?).<\/p>\n

When receiving a call from an unknown caller, it’s common for German speakers to say their full name or just their last name<\/strong>. This is sometimes followed by a greeting. Here are a couple of examples:\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ja, Fischer.<\/em> (Yes, Fischer residence.)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Simon Fischer, Guten Tag.<\/em> (Simon Fischer, good day.)<\/p>\n

If you’re answering the phone at a business or company, you’d typically say the name of the business or company, your full name and a greeting like Guten Tag!<\/em> (Good day!).<\/p>\n

How to Practice German Greetings<\/h2>\n

If you aren\u2019t sure about some of these German greetings or when to use them, you can look for resources to watch native speakers using them in context.<\/p>\n

YouTube channels like Easy German<\/a> can give you more insight into greetings and which ones native speakers use. This one-minute video from Babbel is especially useful when you need a refresher:<\/p>\n

<\/lite-youtube><\/p>\n

You can also look for German talk shows<\/a> which often use these greetings. On top of these, you can learn more everyday German expressions and greetings in context with a program like FluentU<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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