German Greetings: Formal and Informal Ways to Say Hello and Goodbye

Knowing how to greet someone properly in German is one of the first and most important skills you will need. Whether you are visiting Berlin for the weekend, starting a new job in Munich, or simply chatting with a German-speaking friend online, the greeting you choose sends a signal about who you are, how well you know the other person, and how much respect you are showing.

German greetings go far beyond a simple "Hallo." There are formal and informal options, time-of-day variations, regional dialects that might confuse even other Germans, and a whole set of unwritten rules about when to use which one. This guide covers all of it -- every greeting and goodbye you need, when to use each one, and how to pronounce them so you sound confident from your very first conversation.

Formal German Greetings

Formal greetings are essential for professional settings, meeting strangers, speaking with older people, or any situation where you want to show respect. In German culture, formality matters more than it does in many English-speaking countries, so getting this right makes a strong first impression.

Guten Morgen -- Good Morning

Used from the time you wake up until around 11 AM. This is the standard morning greeting in offices, shops, and any public interaction.

Pronunciation: GOO-ten MOR-gen. The "g" in "Morgen" is soft, almost like clearing your throat very gently. The "o" is a pure vowel -- do not turn it into the English "aw" sound.

Guten Tag -- Good Day / Hello

The most versatile formal greeting, appropriate from late morning through early evening (roughly 11 AM to 6 PM). If you only learn one formal greeting, make it this one.

Pronunciation: GOO-ten TAHK. The final "g" in "Tag" is pronounced more like a "k" in standard German. This catches many English speakers off guard.

Guten Abend -- Good Evening

Used from around 6 PM onward. You will hear this when entering restaurants, theaters, and formal evening events.

Pronunciation: GOO-ten AH-bent. The "d" at the end of "Abend" is devoiced to sound like a "t" -- a common pattern in German called Auslautverhärtung (final consonant devoicing).

Wie geht es Ihnen? -- How Are You? (Formal)

This is the formal way to ask how someone is doing. The key word here is Ihnen -- the formal dative form of "you." Using this signals respect and proper distance.

Pronunciation: vee GAYT es EE-nen. Make sure the "w" sounds like an English "v" -- one of the most common pronunciation mistakes beginners make.

Common responses:

• Gut, danke. Und Ihnen? -- Good, thank you. And you?
• Sehr gut, danke. -- Very good, thank you.
• Es geht. -- It is okay. (A very German, understated response.)

For more on perfecting these sounds, check out our German pronunciation guide.

Informal German Greetings

Once you know someone well, or if you are in a casual setting among people your age, you can switch to informal greetings. Using informal language with friends is not just acceptable -- using formal language with close friends would actually feel strange and distant.

Hallo -- Hello

The universal casual greeting. Works in almost any informal situation and is understood everywhere in the German-speaking world.

Pronunciation: HAH-loh. Keep it short and bright -- do not drag out the vowels.

Hey / Hi

Borrowed from English and widely used among younger Germans. Perfectly natural in casual conversation, texting, and social media.

Na? -- Well? / Hey There

This tiny word is quintessentially German. "Na?" is a greeting, a conversation starter, and a way of checking in on someone all rolled into one syllable. You might hear "Na, wie geht's?" (So, how's it going?) or just a standalone "Na?" with a raised eyebrow.

Pronunciation: Simply "nah" with a rising intonation, like a question.

Wie geht's? -- How's It Going?

The informal version of "Wie geht es Ihnen?" The contraction geht's (from geht es) immediately marks this as casual speech.

Pronunciation: vee GAYTS. Quick and relaxed.

Was geht ab? -- What's Up?

Slang, primarily used by younger speakers. Equivalent to the English "What's up?" You might also hear the shortened "Was geht?" This is very informal -- do not use it with your boss.

Practice these greetings out loud with our Speech Champion game, which gives you real-time pronunciation feedback so you can nail the sounds before your next German conversation.

Regional German Greetings

Germany, Austria, and Switzerland each have their own greeting traditions, and even within Germany, what you say depends heavily on where you are. These regional greetings are part of daily life, not just folklore -- if you move to Munich and never say "Grüß Gott," people will notice.

Grüß Gott -- Southern Germany and Austria

Literally "Greet God" (short for "may God greet you"), this is the standard greeting in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and throughout Austria. It is used in both formal and informal contexts and carries no particular religious weight in modern usage.

Pronunciation: GRÜSS GOT. The "ü" sound does not exist in English -- round your lips as if saying "oo" but try to say "ee" instead. Practice this sound, as it appears everywhere in German.

Moin -- Northern Germany

In Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, and much of northern Germany, "Moin" is the greeting of choice. Despite sounding like it should mean "morning," locals use it at any time of day. You may even hear "Moin Moin," though some purists insist that doubling it is too much.

Pronunciation: MOYN. Rhymes with "coin."

Servus -- Bavaria, Austria, and Parts of Switzerland

From the Latin word for "servant" (as in "at your service"), Servus is both a greeting and a goodbye. It is warm, friendly, and casual. You will hear it constantly in beer gardens, cafes, and among friends throughout the southern German-speaking world.

Pronunciation: ZAIR-voos. The initial "s" is pronounced like a "z."

Grüezi -- Switzerland

The Swiss German greeting, derived from "Grüß dich" (greet you). Used throughout German-speaking Switzerland in both casual and semi-formal contexts.

Pronunciation: GRÜE-tsi. The Swiss pronunciation softens the sounds compared to standard German.

If you are planning a trip and want to learn region-specific phrases, our German travel phrases guide covers essential vocabulary for getting around.

How Do You Greet Someone Formally in German?

Formal greetings in German follow clear rules tied to time of day and social context. Here is a quick decision framework:

Before noon: Use Guten Morgen. This is safe in any professional or formal setting during the morning hours.

Midday through afternoon: Switch to Guten Tag. This is the default formal greeting and works even if you are unsure what time-specific greeting to use.

Evening: Use Guten Abend once it feels like evening -- typically after 6 PM, though this shifts with the seasons.

Follow-up: After the initial greeting, you can add Wie geht es Ihnen? to ask how the person is doing. In business contexts, this is polite but not always expected -- Germans often get straight to the point.

Physical greeting: A firm handshake accompanies formal greetings. Maintain eye contact. In Germany, a weak handshake or looking away is considered impolite.

Titles matter: If someone has a professional title, use it. Guten Tag, Herr Doktor Müller or Guten Morgen, Frau Professorin Schmidt. Germans take academic and professional titles seriously in formal settings.

What Is the Difference Between Du and Sie?

This is one of the most important cultural concepts in German, and getting it wrong can create genuinely awkward situations.

Sie (formal "you") is used with:

• Strangers and people you have just met
• Anyone in a professional or business context (unless told otherwise)
• Older people, unless they invite you to use "du"
• Authority figures (police, government officials, professors)
• Customer service interactions

Du (informal "you") is used with:

• Friends and family
• Children (always "du" with children)
• Fellow students
• Colleagues who have agreed to use "du" (this is often a deliberate moment called Duzen)
• People at casual social events, bars, and parties (among younger adults)
• Anyone who says "Du kannst mich duzen" (You can use du with me)

The transition from Sie to du is culturally significant. In workplaces, the more senior person typically offers the "du" -- it is not your place to initiate it. Among peers, it often happens naturally after spending time together. There is even a ritual called Brüderschaft trinken (drinking to brotherhood) where two people link arms, drink, and officially switch to "du."

When in doubt, use Sie. It is never offensive to be too formal. Being too informal, on the other hand, can come across as disrespectful. You can always switch to "du" later, but switching back to "Sie" after using "du" would be very strange.

This distinction affects verb conjugation too. "How are you?" becomes either Wie geht es Ihnen? (Sie) or Wie geht's dir? (du). For a deeper dive into German social vocabulary for professional settings, see our guide on German for work.

What Do Germans Say When They Answer the Phone?

German phone etiquette is different from English-speaking countries and surprises many learners.

The standard practice: Germans typically answer the phone by stating their last name. You pick up and say "Müller" or "Schmidt." That is it. No "hello," no "who is this?" -- just your surname.

In professional settings: You might hear the full name or company name: "Firma Weber, Schmidt am Apparat" (Weber Company, Schmidt speaking) or simply "Schmidt, guten Tag."

Informal calls: When you see a friend's name on your phone, you can answer with "Hallo!" or "Hey!" or "Na, was gibt's?" (Hey, what's up?).

Starting a call: When you call someone, identify yourself first: "Hallo, hier ist [your name]" (Hello, this is [your name]). In formal contexts: "Guten Tag, mein Name ist [full name], ich rufe an wegen..." (Good day, my name is [full name], I am calling about...).

Ending a call:

• Formal: "Auf Wiederhören" (literally "until hearing again" -- the phone equivalent of "Auf Wiedersehen")
• Informal: "Tschüss!" or "Bis dann!" (See you then!)

German Goodbyes

Just like greetings, German has different goodbyes for different levels of formality and different regions.

Formal Goodbyes

Auf Wiedersehen -- The classic formal goodbye, literally meaning "until seeing again." Used in professional settings and with people you address as "Sie."

Pronunciation: owf VEE-der-zay-en. Four syllables, emphasis on the third.

Einen schönen Tag noch -- "Have a nice day." A polite addition after saying goodbye, commonly used by shopkeepers and service staff.

Informal Goodbyes

Tschüss -- The most common informal goodbye, used everywhere in Germany. Despite being casual, it has crept into semi-formal usage as well.

Pronunciation: CHÜSS. The "tsch" sounds like the "ch" in "church." The "ü" is that same rounded vowel from "Grüß Gott."

Bis bald -- "See you soon." Warm and friendly, implies you expect to see the person again before long.

Bis später -- "See you later." Used when you know you will see the person again the same day.

Bis morgen -- "See you tomorrow." Common among colleagues and classmates.

Mach's gut -- "Take care." Casual and warm, often used when parting for a longer time.

Ciao -- Borrowed from Italian, widely used in casual German, especially in southern regions.

Regional Goodbyes

Tschüssi -- A cutesy version of Tschüss, more common in some regions and among women. Some Germans find it slightly childish.

Ade / Adé -- Used in southwestern Germany (Swabia, Baden). From the French "adieu."

Pfiat di -- Bavarian/Austrian dialect for "may God protect you." Very local, very charming.

Pronunciation Tips for German Greetings

German pronunciation follows consistent rules, which is good news -- once you learn the patterns, you can pronounce almost any word correctly. Here are the key sounds that appear in greetings:

The German "W" sounds like an English "V." Wiedersehen starts with a "v" sound, not a "w" sound.

The German "V" usually sounds like an English "F." Auf Wiedersehen -- the "v" in "Wiedersehen" is actually a "v" sound (exception to the rule because of the "w"), but in words like "viel" (much), the "v" sounds like "f."

The "CH" sound comes in two varieties: the soft "ich" sound (made in the front of the mouth, like a cat hissing gently) and the hard "ach" sound (made in the back of the throat, after a, o, u). In Mach's gut, the "ch" is the back-of-throat "ach" sound.

The "Ü" sound appears in Tschüss, Grüß Gott, and Grüezi. Shape your lips for "oo" but try to say "ee." Practice this in front of a mirror -- your lips should be rounded, but your tongue should be in the "ee" position.

Final consonant devoicing: Germans devoice consonants at the end of words. "Tag" sounds like "Tahk," "Abend" sounds like "Ahbent," and "Morgen" -- well, the "n" stays the same, but notice how the final "g" in "Tag" hardens.

Want to practice these sounds with instant feedback? Try our Speech Champion game, where you can record yourself saying German greetings and get scored on your pronunciation. You can also reinforce greeting vocabulary with Memory Match, which helps you build fast recall of essential German phrases.

Quick Reference: German Greetings Cheat Sheet

Test Your Knowledge

Now that you know your German greetings, put them into practice. Take our vocabulary quiz to test how well you remember these phrases, or try the pronunciation quiz to see if you can identify the correct sounds.

For speaking practice, Speech Champion lets you record yourself and get instant feedback on your German pronunciation -- perfect for drilling greetings until they feel natural.

Start Speaking German Today

Greetings are your entry point into every German conversation. Master these phrases and you will make a confident first impression whether you are in a Hamburg office, a Viennese coffee house, or a Zurich train station.

The best way to make these greetings stick is through active practice. Try our interactive German games to build your vocabulary through play, or download the Deutschwunder app to practice German greetings and thousands of other words anytime, anywhere.

For more on building your conversational German from the ground up, read our guide on how to speak German.

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