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 words are used to greet people. hallo is a casual, universal greeting used with friends, family or in relaxed settings.
Which one should you use?
While hallo is a casual, universal greeting, guten Tag means 'good day' and is used in more formal situations. In Southern Germany and Austria, the informal servus is a common alternative for 'hello' or 'hi'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
hallo is an informal, casual greeting. In contrast, guten Tag is more formal and should be used when speaking to strangers, superiors or in professional environments. The greeting grüß Gott is a common formal greeting used in Southern Germany and Austria. In Swiss German-speaking areas, grüezi is the standard polite greeting. Other forms like sälü, sali, hoi and hello are informal-style greetings used in Alemannic-German.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Northern Germany, particularly in Lower Saxony, people often say moin or moin, moin to greet each other. In Southern Germany and Austria, you will frequently hear grüß Gott or the informal servus. In Switzerland, grüezi is a standard greeting. For Alemannic-German, informal options include sälü, sali, hoi and hello. In the Timau region, pfiati is used. The form grias di is also a regional variant.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈhalo/
When do people say it?
In Northern Germany, people frequently use moin, moin as a greeting. In Southern Germany and Austria, grüß Gott is a common way to offer a formal greeting.
Did you know?
- The casual greeting servus actually contains a hidden layer of extreme politeness. It is an abbreviation of a Latin phrase meaning 'I am your most humble servant', which was originally used to address feudal lords.
- In some regions, servus is used both when arriving to say 'hello' and when leaving to say 'goodbye'.
- The formal greeting grüß Gott literally translates to 'greet God'. It is a way of wishing God's presence or blessing upon the person you are meeting.
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 uses hallo to introduce oneself.Tatoeba #2191961 by Vortarulo, translation #30980 by CN
- 227 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Julian meet on the street.
- JuliaHallo, Julian!Hello, Julian!
- JulianHallo, Julia. Wie geht es dir?Hello, Julia. How are you?
- JuliaMir 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.
