Say hello and goodbye in German
Learn standard German greetings and goodbyes, when to use formal vs. informal, and regional variations. Build confidence for your first conversation.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In this lesson, you'll learn how to greet someone and say goodbye in German, and when each expression fits. We focus on standard contemporary German, with notes on regional differences. By the end, you'll be able to handle a simple first interaction, from hello to goodbye, using the right level of politeness.
By the end, you can…
- greet someone appropriately in German, using formal or informal language.
- say goodbye in different ways depending on the situation and region.
- ask how someone is and respond to that question.
- use a simple farewell formula for the end of a conversation.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Guten Tag
Good day / Hello
GOO-ten TAHK
Standard formal greeting used during the day, roughly from late morning until early evening. Suitable for strangers, officials, or in business settings.
Hallo
Hello / Hi
HAH-loh
Informal greeting used with friends, family, and people your age in casual settings. Also common in shops and cafés, even with strangers, especially among younger people.
Grüß Gott
Hello (formal, southern Germany and Austria)
GREWS GOT
Formal greeting used in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Austria. Literally 'Greet God'. In these regions, it's the standard polite daytime greeting.
Moin
Hi / Hello (northern Germany)
MOYN
Informal greeting used throughout the day in northern Germany, especially around Hamburg and Bremen. It can be used with strangers in casual contexts.
Auf Wiedersehen
Goodbye (formal)
owf VEE-der-zayn
Standard formal goodbye. Used in business, with strangers, or when leaving a shop or office. Literally 'until we see each other again'.
Tschüss
Bye (informal)
CHEWS
Common informal goodbye among friends, family, and acquaintances. Widely understood across Germany, though in southern regions 'Ciao' or 'Servus' may be preferred.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
German greetings often combine a time of day with a formula. For example: 'Guten Morgen' (good morning) before about 11 a.m., 'Guten Tag' (good day) from late morning to early evening, and 'Guten Abend' (good evening) after about 6 p.m. For goodbye, 'Guten Tag' can also be used when leaving a shop, but 'Auf Wiedersehen' is more common. In informal settings, 'Hallo' works at any time of day, and 'Tschüss' is the standard informal goodbye.
When to use it
Use formal greetings like 'Guten Tag' with people you don't know, in professional contexts, or with older people. Use informal greetings like 'Hallo' with friends, family, and peers. In southern Germany and Austria, 'Grüß Gott' is the polite default, while 'Hallo' may be considered too casual in some rural areas. In northern Germany, 'Moin' is informal but can be used with strangers in shops. For goodbye, 'Auf Wiedersehen' is safe in formal situations, while 'Tschüss' is fine among friends. In Switzerland, 'Grüezi' is the standard greeting, and 'Uf Wiederluege' is a formal goodbye.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Guten Tag! Wie geht es Ihnen?
Good day! How are you? (formal)GOO-ten TAHK! vee GAYT es EE-nen?Guten Tag! Mir geht es gut, danke. Und Ihnen?
Good day! I'm fine, thank you. And you? (formal)GOO-ten TAHK! meer GAYT es goot, DAHN-kuh. oont EE-nen?Auch gut, danke. Ich heiße Anna. Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen.
Also good, thanks. My name is Anna. Nice to meet you. (formal)owkh goot, DAHN-kuh. ikh HY-suh AH-nah. FROYT mikh, zee KEN-en-tsoo-ler-nen.Freut mich auch. Ich bin Peter. Auf Wiedersehen!
Nice to meet you too. I'm Peter. Goodbye! (formal)FROYT mikh owkh. ikh bin PAY-ter. owf VEE-der-zayn!Auf Wiedersehen! Einen schönen Tag noch!
Goodbye! Have a nice day!owf VEE-der-zayn! HY-nen SHUR-nen TAHK nokh!Danke, Ihnen auch! Tschüss!
Thanks, you too! Bye! (informal)DAHN-kuh, EE-nen owkh! CHEWS!A little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, using the correct formal or informal greeting is important. With strangers, especially older people or in professional settings, use 'Guten Tag' and the formal 'Sie'. Among friends, family, and peers, 'Hallo' and 'du' are standard. In southern Germany and Austria, 'Grüß Gott' is the polite daytime greeting, while in Switzerland 'Grüezi' is used. In northern Germany, 'Moin' is common but informal. When in doubt, observe what others say and mirror their level of formality.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Hallo' in a formal situation, such as addressing an official or an older person you don't know.
Try this instead: Use 'Guten Tag' instead. For example, say 'Guten Tag, Frau Müller' rather than 'Hallo, Frau Müller' when meeting a bank manager or a professor.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You meet your friend's grandmother in the afternoon in Munich. Which greeting is most appropriate?
Show a sample answer
Grüß Gott
In Munich (Bavaria), 'Grüß Gott' is the standard polite daytime greeting. 'Guten Tag' is also acceptable, but 'Grüß Gott' is more local. 'Hallo' would be too informal.
2You are leaving a small shop in Berlin after buying something. What might you say to the shopkeeper?
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Auf Wiedersehen
In a shop, 'Auf Wiedersehen' is a polite, standard goodbye. 'Tschüss' is also possible, especially if the shopkeeper is young, but 'Auf Wiedersehen' is safer and more formal.
3Your German friend says 'Tschüss' to you. How do you respond informally?
Show a sample answer
Tschüss
Replying with 'Tschüss' is perfectly natural among friends. You could also say 'Bis später' (see you later) or 'Ciao' in some regions, but 'Tschüss' is the most common.
Use 'Guten Tag' and 'Auf Wiedersehen' in formal situations, and 'Hallo' and 'Tschüss' with friends. In southern Germany and Austria, 'Grüß Gott' is the polite daytime greeting. When in doubt, mirror the other person's formality.
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