Just as in English, there are many different ways to say hello and goodbye to people in German. Some situations call for the more formal forms — with strangers, business associates or in formal settings — while in other situations you will want to remain casual, such as with friends, family, and fellow students.
Here is a list of some of the most common greetings and farewells in German, along with their approximate English equivalents.
| German Greeting | English Equivalent | Usage Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Guten Tag! | hello, good day | all day from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. |
| Guten Abend! | good evening | everywhere, after 6 p.m. |
| Guten Morgen! | good morning! | everywhere, before noon |
| Grüß dich! | hi! hello! (‘greet you’) | Southern Germany, casual only |
| Grüß Gott! | hello! (‘God greet you’) | Souther Germany, formal |
| Grüezi! | hi! hello! | Switzerland only |
| Servus! | hi! hello! | Austria |
| Moin! (Moin moin!) | hi! hello! | Northern Germany |
| Hallo! | hello! | younger, casual |
| Tag! (Abend! Morgen!) | hi! (evening! morning!) | casual |
| Mahlzeit! (Guten Appetit!) | enjoy your meal! | only at mealtimes |
| Herzlich willkommen! | welcome! (‘heartfelt’) | as welcome |