German Informal Greetings: Say Hey and What's Up with Friends
Learn relaxed German greetings like Hallo, Hey, Na? and Was geht? for friends and peers, and practice matching them to different times of day.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
German has two clear greeting styles: formal greetings for strangers, older people, and professional settings, and informal greetings for friends, classmates, and people your own age. This lesson focuses only on the informal side. You will learn short, relaxed expressions like Hey, Na?, and Was geht?, see how they change across the day, and practice choosing the right tone. Informal German is not rude; it simply signals closeness, shared age, or a casual relationship.
By the end, you can…
- greet a friend or peer in German with a relaxed expression such as Hey or Na?
- choose an informal German greeting that fits morning, afternoon, evening, or night
- recognize when an informal greeting is appropriate and when a formal one is safer
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Hallo!
Hello!
HAH-loh
The safest all-purpose greeting. It works with friends and also in many neutral situations, so beginners can use it almost anywhere.
Hey!
Hey!
hay
Very common among friends and young people. It is casual but friendly, and it works at any time of day.
Na?
Hey, what's up?
nah
Extremely short and informal. Use it with close friends or people your own age. A rising intonation makes it sound friendly.
Was geht?
What's up? / How's it going?
vahs gayt
Youthful slang for peers. It asks how things are going, not for literal information. Common in informal German, especially among younger speakers.
Morgen!
Morning!
MOR-gen
A shortened, friendly way to say Guten Morgen among people you know. Use it in the morning with friends, classmates, or colleagues you are close to.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Informal greetings are often very short. You can drop words that formal German keeps. For example, Guten Morgen becomes Morgen!, and Guten Abend can become Abend! among friends. You can also combine a greeting with a question: Hey, was geht? or Na, alles gut? The pattern is greeting + optional name + optional question. Keep it short and relaxed.
When to use it
Use informal greetings with friends, siblings, classmates, teammates, and people who greet you informally first. In the morning, Morgen! works with people you know. In the afternoon, Hallo! or Hey! is natural. In the evening, Abend! is casual, while Guten Abend is more neutral or formal. If you are unsure, use Hallo! and watch how the other person responds.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Hey, was geht?
Hey, what's up?hay, vahs gaytNicht viel, und dir?
Not much, and you?nisht feel, unt deerAuch okay. Morgen, alles gut?
Also okay. Morning, everything good?owkh oh-KAY. MOR-gen, AH-lus gootJa, alles gut. Bis später!
Yes, all good. See you later!yah, AH-lus goot. bis SHPAY-terA little context goes a long way
Informal greetings signal closeness, not rudeness. In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, using du and informal greetings too early with strangers can feel intrusive, while using formal greetings with close friends can feel distant. When in doubt, start with Hallo! and switch to Hey or Na? when the other person does.
One thing to watch for
Using Hey or Na? with a teacher, a doctor, or an older stranger because it feels friendly.
Try this instead: Keep informal greetings for friends and peers. With strangers or authority figures, use Guten Morgen, Guten Tag, or Guten Abend. For example, say Guten Morgen to a doctor, and Morgen! only to a friend.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1It is 8 a.m. and you see your classmate. Which informal greeting fits?
Show a sample answer
Morgen! or Hey!
Both are friendly and informal in the morning. Morgen! is a shortened Guten Morgen, and Hey! works at any time. Hallo! is also acceptable.
2Your close friend sends a message: Na? What kind of reply fits?
Show a sample answer
Nicht viel, und dir? or Alles gut, und dir?
Na? is a casual check-in, so a short relaxed answer is natural. You can also answer with Was geht? if you want to return the question.
3You meet your new boss at 7 p.m. Should you say Abend! or Guten Abend?
Show a sample answer
Guten Abend.
Guten Abend is the neutral or formal evening greeting and is safer with a new boss. Abend! is informal and better for friends or close colleagues.
Use Hallo! as your safe informal greeting, then add Hey, Na?, or Was geht? with friends and peers. Match the time of day with Morgen!, Hallo!, or Abend!, and keep formal greetings for people you do not know well.
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