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 |
hallo is a common and versatile way to say hello. For time-specific greetings, you can use Guten Morgen to greet someone before noon, guten Tag to say 'good day' during the day or Guten Abend to greet someone in the evening or after dark. Additionally, Hi is used as a casual greeting between friends or in informal settings.
What does it mean word for word?
The colloquial greeting Tag is a shortened form that literally means 'day'.
Which one should you use?
hallo is an informal greeting used with friends or peers, whereas guten Tag is more formal. servus is a common greeting in Southern Germany and Austria that can be used both when arriving and when leaving.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
guten Tag is a formal way to say hello, typically used with strangers or in professional settings. In contrast, hallo is informal. Other informal options include Tag, sälü, sali, hoi and hello in certain dialects.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the northern regions of Germany, especially in Hamburg and Bremen, moin is a common casual greeting used regardless of the time of day. In Southern Germany and Austria, you may use servus or the formal grüß Gott. In the context of Alemannic-German, the forms grüezi, sälü, sali, hoi and hello are used. In Timau, the form pfiati is used. In some areas, grias di is also used.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈhalo/
Did you know?
- The greeting servus is a shortened version of a Latin phrase meaning '(I am your) most humble servant', once said by commoners to feudal lords.
Examples in context
- Sag Hallo zu Tom.Say hello to Tom.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of hallo to address a person.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 or suggestion.Tatoeba #12862245 by Waldelfe, translation #12780855 by sundown
- Hallo, ich bin Mike.Hello, this is Mike.This sentence demonstrates how to use hallo when introducing yourself.Tatoeba #2191961 by Vortarulo, translation #30980 by CN
- Guten Tag, wie geht es Ihnen?Hello, how are you?
- Hallo, wie geht's?Hi, what's up?
- 227 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Hannah meet at a cafe.
- JulianHallo, Hannah!Hello, Hannah!
- HannahHallo, Julian. Wie geht es dir?Hello, Julian. How are you?
- JulianMir geht es gut, danke.I am doing well, thanks.
- HannahDas freut mich zu hören.I am happy to hear that.
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.
