hallo Wunderschöne
The English phrase 'hello gorgeous' is translated into German as hallo Wunderschöne.
This is an affectionate greeting used to address someone whom the speaker finds very attractive.
Which one should you use?
The form of the phrase changes depending on the gender of the person you are addressing. You should use hallo Wunderschöner when speaking to a man. If you want to say 'Hello, pretty' in an informal way, you can use Hallo, Hübsche. To say 'Hey, sweetie', use Hey, Süße for a woman and Hey, Süßer when speaking to a man.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes its ending based on the gender of the person being addressed.
Did you know?
- The word hallo is actually a descendant of a call used to signal a ferryman to come and fetch you. It evolved from an imperative command to 'fetch' or 'bring' something across a river.
- Using hallo Wunderschöne in a professional German setting would likely be seen as highly inappropriate or even sexual harassment. Unlike the more casual 'gorgeous' in some English contexts, this is an extremely intimate and strong compliment.
- While 'gorgeous' is an adjective in English, in the German phrase hallo Wunderschöne, the word Wunderschöne functions as a noun. This transforms the quality of being 'wonderful-beautiful' into a title for the person itself.
Examples in context
- Hallo, Hübsche! Wie geht es dir?Hello, pretty! How are you doing?
Example conversation
Felix arrives at a date to pick up Julia.
- JuliaHallo Wunderschöne!Hello gorgeous!
- FelixHallo Felix, danke für das Kompliment.Hello Felix, thanks for the compliment.
- JuliaBist du bereit für den Abend?Are you ready for the evening?
- FelixJa, ich bin fertig.Yes, I am ready.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hallo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
