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 |
These terms are used to greet people. You can use hallo to greet friends, colleagues or acquaintances by using hallo [First Name].
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase guten Tag literally translates to "good day".
Which one should you use?
While hallo is a general greeting, guten Tag is more formal and is used in professional or polite settings. Tag is a shortened, more casual version of guten Tag. In some regions, servus can be used as both a greeting and a way to say goodbye.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
guten Tag is a formal way to say hello, typically used during daylight hours. For a highly formal context, such as addressing a superior, you can use Guten Tag, Frau/Herr [Last Name].
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Northern Germany, particularly Hamburg and the surrounding areas, moin is a common greeting. In Bavaria and other parts of Southern Germany, servus is often used. In Southern Germany and Austria, the polite and traditional greeting grüß Gott is used. The Alemannic-German dialect includes the forms grüezi, sälü, sali, hoi and hello. In the Timau region, pfiati is used. grias di is also a regional form.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈhalo/
Did you know?
- The greeting hallo was historically used to call out to a ferryman on the opposite bank of a river to hail him.
- The greeting grüß Gott is not just a 'hello' but a way of asking for God's blessing upon the person you meet.
- While moin is often seen as a greeting for the morning, in Northern Germany it is used as a general 'hello' at any time of the day or night.
Examples in context
- Sag Hallo zu Tom.Say hello to Tom.This sentence is useful for practicing the form hallo.Tatoeba #6625644 by Felixjp, translation #4667245 by CK
- Komm und sag hallo!Come and say hello.Tatoeba #12862245 by Waldelfe, translation #12780855 by sundown
- Hallo, ich bin Mike.Hello, this is Mike.Tatoeba #2191961 by Vortarulo, translation #30980 by CN
- 227 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Lukas meet in a park.
- SarahHallo, Lukas!Hello, Lukas!
- LukasHallo, Sarah. Wie geht es dir?Hello, Sarah. How are you?
- SarahMir geht es gut, danke.I am doing well, thanks.
- LukasDas 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.
