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 |
Greetings in German vary depending on the level of formality and the specific region you are in. While hallo is an informal greeting, guten Tag is a common formal way to say hello, meaning 'Good day' or 'Good afternoon'.
Which one should you use?
The choice of greeting depends on your relationship with the person. Use hallo for an informal greeting with friends, family or peers. In contrast, use guten Tag as a more formal greeting when speaking to strangers, superiors or in professional settings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
hallo is the most common informal way to say hello in German. guten Tag is used in formal situations. Some other options like sälü, sali and hoi are informal versions used within Alemannic-German dialects, while na is a colloquial way to say hello among friends.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Regional variations are common across German-speaking areas. In northern Germany, particularly in Hamburg and surrounding areas, people use the casual greeting moin. In southern Germany (especially Bavaria) and parts of Austria, the formal greeting grüß Gott is used. Across Switzerland, grüezi is a common greeting. In Austria, servus can be used as both a formal and informal way to say both 'Hi' and 'Goodbye'. Within Alemannic-German dialects, you may also encounter sälü, sali, hoi and hello. In the Timau region, pfiati is used. The form grias di is also available.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈhalo/
Did you know?
- While hallo is a standard greeting today, it originally functioned as a specific call used to hail a ferryman across a river.
- The phrase grüß Gott literally means 'greet God' and is a traditional way to say hello in Bavaria and Austria.
- The greeting moin is common in northern Germany and can be used as a greeting at any time of the day or night.
Examples in context
- Sag Hallo zu Tom.Say hello to Tom.This sentence shows how to use hallo to greet someone.Tatoeba #6625644 by Felixjp, translation #4667245 by CK
- Komm und sag hallo!Come and say hello.This sentence shows a way to use hallo when arriving or greeting.Tatoeba #12862245 by Waldelfe, translation #12780855 by sundown
- Hallo, ich bin Mike.Hello, this is Mike.This sentence uses hallo to introduce oneself.Tatoeba #2191961 by Vortarulo, translation #30980 by CN
- Guten Tag! Wie geht es Ihnen?Hello! How are you?
- Hallo! Wie geht's?Hi! How are you?
- Moin! Alles klar?Hey! Everything okay?
- 227 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Julian meet at a cafe.
- SarahHallo, Julian!Hello, Julian!
- JulianHallo, Sarah! Wie geht es dir?Hello, Sarah! How are you?
- SarahMir geht es gut, danke.I am doing well, thanks.
- JulianDas 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.
