Formal greetings are used in professional settings, when addressing strangers, or when speaking to elders.
Guten Morgen (Good morning)
Pronunciation: /ˈɡuːtn̩ ˈmɔʁɡn̩/
Use: Morning hours, up to about 10:00 AM.
Guten Tag (Good day)
Pronunciation: /ˈɡuːtn̩ ˈtaːk/
Use: From late morning (10:00 AM) until early evening (around 5:00–6:00 PM).
Guten Abend (Good evening)
Pronunciation: /ˈɡuːtn̩ ˈaːbnt/
Use: From early evening (5:00–6:00 PM) onward.
Grüß Gott (May God greet you)
Pronunciation: /ɡʁyːs ˈɡɔt/
Use: Common in southern Germany (e.g., Bavaria) and Austria.
Hallo, wie geht es Ihnen? (Hello, how are you?)
Pronunciation: /ˈhaˌloː viː ˈɡeːt ɛs ˈiːnən/
Use: A formal way to greet and ask how someone is.
These greetings are used with friends, family, or people you know well.
Hallo (Hello)
Pronunciation: /ˈhaˌloː/
Use: The most universal informal greeting, suitable for any time of day.
Hi (Hi)
Pronunciation: /haɪ̯/
Use: Borrowed from English, common among young people.
Na? (Hi/What's up?)
Pronunciation: /naː/
Use: Very casual, used among close friends.
Wie geht's? (How's it going?)
Pronunciation: /viː ˈɡeːts/
Use: Shortened and informal version of "Wie geht es dir?"
These greetings vary by region and are often used in casual, friendly contexts.
Moin (Hi/Good day)
Pronunciation: /mɔɪ̯n/
Use: Common in northern Germany, suitable for all times of day.
Servus (Hi/Bye)
Pronunciation: /ˈzɛʁvʊs/
Use: Common in southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Grüß dich (Hello to you)
Pronunciation: /ɡʁyːs ˈdɪç/
Use: Informal, mainly in southern Germany and Austria.