Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| hallo | /ˈhalo/ /haˈloː/ |
|
| guten Tag | /ˌɡuːtn̩ ˈtaːk/ /ˌɡutn̩ ˈtaːk/ |
|
| servus | /ˈzɛrvʊs/ | |
| moin | /mɔːɪn/ /mɔːɪŋ/ |
|
| Tag | /taːk/ /tax/ |
|
| grias di | ||
| grüß Gott | /ɡʁyːs ɡɔt/ | Austria, German, Southern |
| grüezi | Alemannic German | |
| sälü | Alemannic German, informal | |
| sali | Alemannic German, informal | |
| hoi | /hɔʏ̯/ | Alemannic German, informal |
| hello | Alemannic German, informal | |
| pfiati | Timau |
The most common and versatile way to say hello in informal situations is hallo. For a more affectionate or playful tone, you can use the diminutive hallöchen. Many younger Germans also frequently use the English word hi in casual settings.
Which one should you use?
hallo is an informal greeting used with friends, family or in casual settings. In contrast, guten Tag is a more formal greeting used with strangers, superiors or in professional environments. While guten Tag translates to 'good day' and can be used from morning until evening, other formal options include guten Morgen for 'good morning' (typically used until midday) and guten Abend for 'good evening' (used after dark).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
hallo is informal. For formal contexts, use guten Tag, guten Morgen or guten Abend depending on the time of day. Among acquaintances, you may hear the informal shortened form Tag used as a greeting.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Northern Germany, the informal moin is used to say hello in the morning or throughout the day. In Southern Germany and Austria, the phrase grüß Gott is used and means 'May God greet you'. The term servus is common in Bavaria, Austria and parts of Switzerland, acting as both a greeting (Hi) and a farewell (Goodbye). In the Alemannic-German dialect, you may encounter grüezi, as well as the informal forms sälü, sali, hoi or hello. In Timau, the form pfiati is used. The form grias di is also a regional variation.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈhalo/
When do people say it?
Greetings in German often depend heavily on the time of day and the level of formality. When using grüß Gott in Southern Germany or Austria, you are literally saying 'May God greet you'.
Did you know?
- When you use the greeting servus in parts of Southern Germany or Austria, you are actually using a shortened Latin phrase that once meant 'I am your most humble servant' to a feudal lord.
- In Northern Germany, the greeting moin is often used twice as moin moin to sound more friendly, although some locals consider the double version to be an unnecessary chatty addition.
- The greeting moin is a staple of Northern Germany, yet its linguistic roots remain a mystery, as the exact origin of the word is not clearly established.
Examples in context
- Sag Hallo zu Tom.Say hello to Tom.This sentence demonstrates how to use hallo to address someone.Tatoeba #6625644 by Felixjp, translation #4667245 by CK
- Komm und sag hallo!Come and say hello.This sentence shows how to use hallo as a command to greet someone.Tatoeba #12862245 by Waldelfe, translation #12780855 by sundown
- Hallo, ich bin Mike.Hello, this is Mike.This sentence shows how to introduce yourself using hallo.Tatoeba #2191961 by Vortarulo, translation #30980 by CN
- Guten Morgen, Frau Schmidt.Good morning, Mrs. Schmidt.
- Hallo, Tom!Hello, Tom!
- Guten Tag, Herr Müller.Good day, Mr. Müller.
- Moin allerseits!Hello everyone!
- Hallo, Klaus!Hello, Klaus!
- Guten Tag, Frau Weber.Good day, Mrs. Weber.
- Moin, Sabine!Hi, Sabine!
- Hallo! Wie geht es dir?Hello! How are you?
- Guten Morgen! Ist es nicht ein schöner Tag heute?Good morning! Isn't it a beautiful day today?
- 227 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Julia meet on a sidewalk.
- LukasHallo, Julia!Hello, Julia!
- JuliaHallo, Lukas! Wie geht es dir?Hello, Lukas! How are you?
- LukasGut, danke.Good, thanks.
- JuliaFreut mich zu hören.Glad to hear it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations and entries hallo, guten Tag, servus, moin, Tag, grüß Gott, grüezi, hoi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Tag, guten Tag, hallo, moin, servus, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
