Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| guten Tag | /ˌɡuːtn̩ ˈtaːk/ /ˌɡutn̩ ˈtaːk/ |
| Tach | /tax/ /taːx/ |
guten Tag is used as a greeting between sunrise and sunset. While this phrase is used during the main daylight hours, German speakers switch to Guten Morgen (morning) and Guten Abend (evening) to be more precise with the time of day.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase guten Tag literally means "good day". It consists of the adjective gut (good) in the accusative masculine form and the noun Tag (day).
Which one should you use?
guten Tag is the standard, universal form for the greeting. Tach is a clipped, colloquial version of the word Tag.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
guten Tag is the standard and most universal way to say good day in German. In contrast, Tach is a colloquial version used in casual contexts, such as the greeting Tach zusammen (Hi everyone).
How does it change in a sentence?
When used in the phrase Einen guten Tag noch! (Have a good day!), the phrase takes the accusative case because it is the direct object of an implied verb like wünschen (to wish).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌɡuːtn̩ ˈtaːk/
When do people say it?
When parting ways, you can use the phrase Schönen Tag noch to wish someone a nice day.
Did you know?
- While guten Tag is a standard greeting, the word Tag has a much more formal history in German, referring to a fixed day for legal assemblies or debates, which is why we see it in words like Reichstag.
- The greeting guten Tag shares a common linguistic ancestor with the Yiddish phrase אַ גוטן טאָג (a gutn tog).
- While guten Tag is universal, using it in very casual youth circles can sometimes sound overly formal or ironic.
Examples in context
- Einen guten Tag noch!Have a good day.This sentence shows how to use guten Tag when wishing someone a good day.Tatoeba #6644873 by Felixjp, translation #3326719 by CK
- Guten Tag, was möchten Sie?Good day. What do you want?This sentence demonstrates a way to use guten Tag when asking what someone wants.Tatoeba #714343 by jakov, translation #2310291 by Gulo_Luscus
- Guten Tag! Wie geht es dir?Good day, how are you?This sentence shows how to use guten Tag as a greeting before asking how someone is.Tatoeba #9932785 by grasweg3, translation #415678 by blay_paul
- Guten Tag! Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen?Good day! How can I help you?
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Lukas meet at a train station.
- SarahGuten Tag, Lukas!Good day, Lukas!
- LukasHallo Sarah, schön dich zu sehen.Hello Sarah, nice to see you.
- SarahGeht es dir gut?Are you doing well?
- LukasJa, danke. Und dir?Yes, thanks. And you?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good day” translations and entries guten Tag, Tach, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Tag, guten Tag, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
