Grüß Gott
polite, Austria
The typical polite greeting in Austria is Grüß Gott. Among friends you say Servus or Grüß dich, and Hallo works in a young or international crowd.
Meaning: greeting (interjection)
Ways to say it
| German | Note |
|---|---|
| Grüß Gott | polite, Austria |
| Servus | casual, Austria |
| Grüß dich | casual, Austria |
Grüß Gott is used in shops, hotels and offices, and at any time of day. Servus is relaxed and can also mean goodbye.
Which one should you use?
In northern Germany people prefer Guten Tag or Moin, so Grüß Gott marks you as speaking the southern German or Austrian way.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Say Grüß Gott to strangers and shopkeepers, but not Servus, because that is for people you know well.
Did you know?
- Grüß Gott literally means "greet God" and is the standard daily greeting in Austria and in southern Germany.
Examples in context
- Grüß Gott, ich hätte gern einen Kaffee.Hello, I would like a coffee.
- Servus, wie geht's?Hi, how are you?
- Grüß dich, schön dich zu sehen.Hello, nice to see you.
Example conversation
Herr Gruber walks into a café in Salzburg and greets the waitress.
- Herr GruberGrüß Gott!Hello!
- KellnerinGrüß Gott. Einen Tisch für eine Person?Hello. A table for one?
- Herr GruberJa, bitte, am Fenster.Yes, please, by the window.
