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 simple, widely used informal greeting. For time-specific greetings, Guten Morgen is used in the morning, while Guten Abend is a formal way to say hello in the evening or at night. guten Tag is a common way to say hello in German that can be used throughout the day.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase guten Tag is composed of the adjective guten (good) and the noun Tag (day).
Which one should you use?
While hallo is a casual greeting used with friends or in informal settings, guten Tag is more formal. The shortened form Tag is often used as a casual, clipped greeting similar to 'Morning' or 'Day' in English.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
hallo is an informal greeting. guten Tag is a polite, formal way to say hello, typically used in professional settings or with strangers. The slang term Tach is a casual and slangy way to say hello.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Several greetings are specific to certain areas. moin is a common greeting used primarily in Northern Germany. servus is used in Bavaria and some parts of Austria. In Southern Germany and Austria, the formal greeting grüß Gott is predominant. In the Alemannic-German dialect regions, you may hear grüezi, as well as the informal forms sälü, sali, hoi and hello. The form grias di is also used, and pfiati is found in Timau. In certain regions of Germany like Berlin or Hamburg, the slang term Tach is used.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈhalo/
Did you know?
- The informal greeting servus has surprisingly humble origins, as it is a shortened version of the Latin phrase 'servus humillimus', meaning 'I am your most humble servant'.
- The greeting pfiati is used in specific Alpine regions and is derived from a phrase wishing someone God's protection.
- In Southern Germany and Austria, grüß Gott literally means 'greet God'.
Examples in context
- Sag Hallo zu Tom.Say hello to Tom.This sentence shows how to use hallo when addressing someone.Tatoeba #6625644 by Felixjp, translation #4667245 by CK
- Komm und sag hallo!Come and say hello.This sentence demonstrates a casual way to use hallo.Tatoeba #12862245 by Waldelfe, translation #12780855 by sundown
- Hallo, ich bin Mike.Hello, this is Mike.This sentence illustrates how to introduce yourself using hallo.Tatoeba #2191961 by Vortarulo, translation #30980 by CN
- Guten Tag! Wie geht es Ihnen?Hello! How are you?
- Guten Tag! Mir geht es gut, danke!Hello! I'm fine, thank you!
- Hallo! Wie geht's dir?Hi! How are you?
- Hallo! Mir geht's super!Hi! I'm great!
- 227 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Julian meet at a cafe.
- HannahHallo, Julian!Hello, Julian!
- JulianHallo, Hannah. Wie geht es dir?Hello, Hannah. How are you?
- HannahMir geht es sehr gut.I am doing very well.
- 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.
