👋 German Greetings
Greetings help you start conversations in German. In this beginner lesson, you will learn everyday German greetings and farewells, when to use them, how to sound polite or casual, and how to respond. Read the English meanings, then press ▶️ to hear the German.
🟢 Basic German Greetings
👋 Hallo!
Hello! / Hi!
A common, friendly greeting at any time of day.
Hello! / Hi!
A common, friendly greeting at any time of day.
☀️ Guten Morgen!
Good morning!
Use this when greeting someone in the morning.
Good morning!
Use this when greeting someone in the morning.
🌤️ Guten Tag!
Hello! / Good day!
A polite greeting used during the day, including the afternoon. German usually does not use a separate everyday equivalent of “Good afternoon.”
Hello! / Good day!
A polite greeting used during the day, including the afternoon. German usually does not use a separate everyday equivalent of “Good afternoon.”
🌙 Guten Abend!
Good evening!
Use this when greeting someone in the evening.
Good evening!
Use this when greeting someone in the evening.
💤 Gute Nacht!
Good night!
Use this when saying goodbye at bedtime, not when arriving to greet someone.
Good night!
Use this when saying goodbye at bedtime, not when arriving to greet someone.
😊 Wie geht es Ihnen?
How are you? (formal)
Use with people you address politely as Sie.
How are you? (formal)
Use with people you address politely as Sie.
🤝 Wie geht es dir?
How are you? (informal)
Use with friends, family, and people you address as du. A casual shorter version is Wie geht’s?
How are you? (informal)
Use with friends, family, and people you address as du. A casual shorter version is Wie geht’s?
👥 Formal vs. Casual German
👋 Casual German (du)
Use with friends, family, and people you are on familiar terms with.
Hallo! Wie geht’s?
Hi! How are you?
For a fuller question, say Wie geht es dir? (“How are you?”).
Use with friends, family, and people you are on familiar terms with.
Hallo! Wie geht’s?
Hi! How are you?
For a fuller question, say Wie geht es dir? (“How are you?”).
🤝 Formal German (Sie)
Use in polite or professional situations, including when addressing someone you do not know well.
Guten Tag. Wie geht es Ihnen?
Good day. How are you?
The formal Sie is always capitalized.
Use in polite or professional situations, including when addressing someone you do not know well.
Guten Tag. Wie geht es Ihnen?
Good day. How are you?
The formal Sie is always capitalized.
Quick tip: German has two main ways to say “you”: informal du and formal Sie. After Wie geht es ...?, the forms are dir (informal) and Ihnen (formal). Use Und dir? with a friend and Und Ihnen? in formal conversation.
🟡 Meeting & Greeting People
🤝 Freut mich, dich kennenzulernen.
Nice to meet you. (informal)
Use when you meet someone for the first time and address them as du.
Nice to meet you. (informal)
Use when you meet someone for the first time and address them as du.
😊 Es freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen.
Pleased to meet you. (formal)
A polite introduction using Sie.
Pleased to meet you. (formal)
A polite introduction using Sie.
😎 Wie läuft’s?
How’s it going?
A casual way to ask a friend how things are going.
How’s it going?
A casual way to ask a friend how things are going.
💬 Was ist los?
What’s going on? / What’s the matter?
This often asks about a problem or unusual situation. It is not a standard greeting.
What’s going on? / What’s the matter?
This often asks about a problem or unusual situation. It is not a standard greeting.
🎉 Lange nicht gesehen!
Long time no see!
Say this to someone you already know but have not seen for a long time.
Long time no see!
Say this to someone you already know but have not seen for a long time.
😊 Schön, dich zu sehen!
It’s great to see you!
A friendly greeting for someone you know. dich is informal.
It’s great to see you!
A friendly greeting for someone you know. dich is informal.
🔵 Common Responses
😊 Mir geht es gut.
I’m doing well.
A full and useful answer to Wie geht es dir? or Wie geht es Ihnen?
I’m doing well.
A full and useful answer to Wie geht es dir? or Wie geht es Ihnen?
😄 Sehr gut, danke.
Very well, thank you.
A polite, natural short answer.
Very well, thank you.
A polite, natural short answer.
👍 Alles gut, danke.
Everything’s good, thanks.
An informal, relaxed response.
Everything’s good, thanks.
An informal, relaxed response.
💬 Und dir?
And you? (informal)
Ask the same question back to someone you address as du.
And you? (informal)
Ask the same question back to someone you address as du.
🤝 Und Ihnen?
And you? (formal)
Ask the same question back to someone you address as Sie.
And you? (formal)
Ask the same question back to someone you address as Sie.
😊 Mir geht’s gut, danke.
I’m fine, thanks.
A common spoken form of Mir geht es gut, danke.
I’m fine, thanks.
A common spoken form of Mir geht es gut, danke.
😁 Nicht schlecht!
Not bad!
Things are okay or quite good.
Not bad!
Things are okay or quite good.
👋 Common Farewells
👋 Auf Wiedersehen!
Goodbye! (formal)
A polite farewell, often used at work, in shops, or with people you do not know well.
Goodbye! (formal)
A polite farewell, often used at work, in shops, or with people you do not know well.
😊 Tschüss!
Bye!
An everyday, informal goodbye.
Bye!
An everyday, informal goodbye.
🤝 Bis später!
See you later!
Useful when you expect to meet again later.
See you later!
Useful when you expect to meet again later.
📅 Bis morgen!
See you tomorrow!
Say this when you plan to meet the next day.
See you tomorrow!
Say this when you plan to meet the next day.
😊 Bis bald!
See you soon!
A friendly goodbye without an exact time.
See you soon!
A friendly goodbye without an exact time.
❤️ Pass gut auf dich auf!
Take care! (informal)
Use with someone you address as du. In formal situations, say Passen Sie gut auf sich auf!
Take care! (informal)
Use with someone you address as du. In formal situations, say Passen Sie gut auf sich auf!
💬 Everyday Conversations
Running into a friend
You meet a friend by chance.
A: Hallo! Wie geht’s?
Hi! How are you?
B: Sehr gut, danke. Und dir?
Very well, thanks. And you?
You meet a friend by chance.
A: Hallo! Wie geht’s?
Hi! How are you?
B: Sehr gut, danke. Und dir?
Very well, thanks. And you?
First-time introduction
Two people meet for the first time in a polite setting.
A: Guten Tag. Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen.
Hello. Nice to meet you.
B: Freut mich ebenfalls.
Nice to meet you too.
Two people meet for the first time in a polite setting.
A: Guten Tag. Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen.
Hello. Nice to meet you.
B: Freut mich ebenfalls.
Nice to meet you too.
Heading out
You are leaving and saying goodbye to a friend.
A: Bis bald!
See you soon!
B: Bis dann! Pass auf dich auf!
See you! Take care!
You are leaving and saying goodbye to a friend.
A: Bis bald!
See you soon!
B: Bis dann! Pass auf dich auf!
See you! Take care!
🌍 German Greeting Culture
In Germany, Hallo is a common friendly greeting, while Guten Tag often sounds more polite or formal. In shops and professional situations, a greeting is appreciated. A handshake may be used when people are introduced, but it is not required every time. Among friends, Tschüss is a common goodbye. Regional greetings vary: you may hear Moin in northern Germany and Servus in Bavaria. When unsure, Guten Tag and Auf Wiedersehen are safe polite choices.
📝 Example Sentences
😊 Hallo, schön, dich zu sehen!
Hello, it’s great to see you!
A warm greeting for a person you know.
Hello, it’s great to see you!
A warm greeting for a person you know.
☀️ Guten Morgen. Wie geht es Ihnen?
Good morning. How are you?
A polite morning greeting followed by a formal question.
Good morning. How are you?
A polite morning greeting followed by a formal question.
🤝 Freut mich, dich kennenzulernen. Ich heiße Anna.
Nice to meet you. My name is Anna.
Introducing yourself informally.
Nice to meet you. My name is Anna.
Introducing yourself informally.
😄 Alles gut, danke. Und dir?
Everything’s good, thanks. And you?
An informal answer and follow-up question.
Everything’s good, thanks. And you?
An informal answer and follow-up question.
👋 Bis bald. Pass gut auf dich auf!
See you soon. Take care!
A friendly goodbye.
See you soon. Take care!
A friendly goodbye.
📅 Bis morgen!
See you tomorrow!
Say this if you expect to meet the next day.
See you tomorrow!
Say this if you expect to meet the next day.
🏆 Final Practice
German in the Real World:
Read the situation in English. Choose the correct German phrase.
Read the situation in English. Choose the correct German phrase.
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❓ Questions: 0
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