How to Say Hello in German: 17 Greetings for Every Situation

The Short Answer

The most common way to say hello in German is Hallo (HAH-loh). It works across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and every other German-speaking region, at any time of day, and in both casual and moderately formal settings. But native speakers draw from a much richer set of greetings depending on context, region, and relationship.

German is spoken by over 130 million people worldwide and is an official language in six countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and Belgium. According to Ethnologue's 2024 data, it ranks among the top twelve most spoken languages globally. With that reach across Central Europe comes striking regional variety in how people greet each other, from Guten Tag in a Berlin office to Grüß Gott in a Viennese coffee house to Moin on the streets of Hamburg.

"German greetings reveal the regional identity of the speaker more immediately than almost any other feature of the language. A single word (Moin, Servus, or Grüezi) places a person geographically with remarkable precision."

(Ulrich Ammon, Die Stellung der deutschen Sprache in der Welt, De Gruyter, 2015)

This guide covers 17 essential German greetings organized by category: universal, time-of-day, casual, formal, regional, and slang. Each one includes pronunciation, an example sentence, and cultural context so you know exactly when and where to use it.

Quick Reference: German Greetings at a Glance

Universal Greetings

These greetings work across every German-speaking country and are understood by all speakers. The Duden, Germany's authoritative dictionary, lists them as standard High German (Hochdeutsch).

Hallo

Hallo is the safest greeting in German. It carries no regional baggage, works at any hour, and fits almost any level of formality. The stress falls on the first syllable: HAH-loh, not hah-LOH.

Unlike English "Hello," which can sound formal on its own, German Hallo sits in a comfortable middle ground: neutral enough for a shop, warm enough for friends. In professional emails, you will often see Hallo Herr Müller or Hallo Frau Schmidt as the standard opening.

Guten Tag

Guten Tag is the textbook greeting, literally "good day." It is the go-to choice in professional and semi-formal situations: entering a shop, meeting someone for the first time, or addressing a colleague you are not close with.

In northern Germany, you will often hear just Tag! as a clipped, efficient version. This shortening is perfectly acceptable in everyday situations and reflects the matter-of-fact communication style common in the north.

Time-of-Day Greetings

German has three main time-based greetings that cover the full day. They follow a clear, predictable pattern.

Guten Morgen

The standard morning greeting, used from sunrise until roughly noon. The transition to Guten Tag happens around midday, though the exact moment is less debated than in some other languages.

A shortened Morgen! is very common among coworkers and friends. Walking into the office and saying just Morgen! is completely natural.

Guten Abend

Guten Abend takes over in the late afternoon or early evening, typically from around 6 PM. It carries a slightly more formal, composed tone than Hallo and is the standard greeting at restaurants, theaters, and evening events.

Note that German does not use Gute Nacht (Good night) as a greeting; it is exclusively a farewell, said when someone is going to sleep. This is a common mistake for English speakers.

Casual Greetings

These are the greetings you will hear most among friends, family, and young people. They work across Germany but are less common in formal situations.

Wie geht's?

Wie geht's? is a contraction of Wie geht es dir? (How goes it for you?). It functions as both a greeting and a genuine question. One key cultural difference: Germans often give an honest answer rather than the automatic "Fine, thanks" common in English.

The formal version, Wie geht es Ihnen?, uses the formal pronoun Ihnen and is covered in the formal greetings section below.

Hi

Yes, Germans say Hi. English loanwords are deeply embedded in contemporary German, especially among younger speakers. Hi and Hey are standard casual greetings in text messages, social media, and face-to-face conversation among friends. The Goethe-Institut notes that English borrowings in German have accelerated sharply since the 2000s.

Formal Greetings

Essential for professional settings, meeting elders, or any situation where you want to demonstrate respect. German culture places significant weight on the distinction between the informal du (you) and the formal Sie (you). For more on navigating these registers, our German learning hub has interactive exercises.

Wie geht es Ihnen?

The formal Sie pronoun is non-negotiable in many German interactions. Using du with someone who expects Sie can be perceived as disrespectful. When in doubt, always start with Sie and let the other person offer the du, a transition called Duzen, which is often explicitly proposed: Wollen wir uns duzen? (Shall we use du?).

Freut mich

The go-to phrase when meeting someone for the first time. Freut mich is the shorter, everyday version; Es freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen is the fully expanded formal form. The most natural responses are Gleichfalls (likewise) or Ganz meinerseits (entirely on my side).

Sehr erfreut

A step above Freut mich in formality. Sehr erfreut is the greeting you would use meeting a dignitary, a senior professor, or at a formal reception. It carries a polished, somewhat old-world elegance that signals high cultural awareness.

Regional Greetings

German-speaking regions have developed distinct greeting traditions that immediately reveal where a speaker is from. As linguist Ulrich Ammon documents, these regional forms are not slang but standard, respected greetings within their regions.

Grüß Gott

Grüß Gott is the default polite greeting across Bavaria and Austria. Despite the literal meaning ("Greet God," short for Gott grüße dich, "May God greet you"), it is not a religious expression in modern usage. Shopkeepers, bus drivers, doctors, and waiters all use it as their neutral, everyday greeting.

If you visit Munich, Vienna, or Salzburg, Grüß Gott is what you will hear dozens of times a day. Using it shows respect for local customs. Check out our guide to the best movies for learning German for Austrian and Bavarian films where you can hear these regional forms in action.

Servus

Servus has a fascinating etymology: it derives from the Latin servus humillimus (your most humble servant), but today it is simply a warm, casual greeting. It doubles as a farewell too: you can walk in saying Servus! and walk out saying the exact same thing.

Grüezi

Grüezi is the unmistakable Swiss German greeting. It comes from Gott grüeze dich (God greet you), the same root as Grüß Gott but with a distinctly Swiss form. The variant Grüezi mitenand (hello together) addresses a group. Using Grüezi in Switzerland shows cultural awareness and is always appreciated.

Moin

Moin is perhaps the most misunderstood German greeting. Despite sounding like "morning," it has nothing to do with the time of day. It derives from Low German (Plattdeutsch) moi, meaning "good" or "pleasant." You will hear it at 8 AM and at 11 PM equally.

The doubled form Moin Moin is also common, though some purists in Hamburg insist that Moin alone is sufficient and that doubling it is "already too much talking," a joke that perfectly captures the dry northern German humor.

Slang Greetings

Young Germans, especially in urban areas, use these informal greetings among friends. They are not appropriate for formal settings.

Na?

Na? is peak German efficiency: an entire greeting compressed into one syllable. It is a casual "hey, what's up?" that invites the other person to share what is new. The standard response is often just Na? right back, followed by actual conversation.

Was geht?

Was geht? is the direct German equivalent of "What's up?" and is especially common among teenagers and young adults. The extended version Was geht ab? (What's going off?) adds extra informality. Both are strictly casual.

Tschüss

While Tschüss is a farewell rather than a greeting, it is worth including for contrast. It is the casual counterpart to the formal Auf Wiedersehen (until we see each other again). Interestingly, Tschüss originated as a northern German form. It was once considered informal and regional, but according to the Duden, it has become standard across all of Germany since the late 20th century.

How to Respond to German Greetings

Knowing how to greet someone is half the equation. Here is how to respond naturally.

Responses to Universal and Time-Based Greetings

Responses to Casual and Formal Greetings

Practice With Real German Content

Reading about greetings is a great first step, but hearing them spoken naturally by native speakers is what makes them stick. German-language films and shows on streaming platforms are excellent resources: Dark for standard German, Tatort for a mix of regional dialects, and Austrian productions for hearing Grüß Gott and Servus in context.

Wordy lets you take this further. You can watch German movies and shows with interactive subtitles, tapping on any greeting to see its meaning, pronunciation, and cultural context in real time. Instead of memorizing phrases in isolation, you absorb them from real conversations with authentic intonation and regional flavor.

For more German content, explore our blog for guides including the best movies to learn German. You can also visit our German learning page to start practicing with native content today.