Hallo, schön dich kennenzulernen
In German, "hello nice to meet you" is translated as Hallo, schön dich kennenzulernen.
This phrase is a polite greeting used when meeting someone for the first time. You can also use the shorter alternative Freut mich, which literally means "It pleases me."
What does it mean word for word?
The part schön dich kennenzulernen literally translates to "nice to get to know you".
Which one should you use?
The default form schön dich kennenzulernen is used for individuals in casual social settings or for people your own age. If you are addressing a group of people informally, use Schön, euch kennenzulernen.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are in a formal setting or speaking to a stranger of higher status, you should replace dich with Sie to say schön Sie kennenzulernen.
When do people say it?
When someone says schön dich kennenzulernen to you, a natural way to respond is Ganz meinerseits, which means "entirely on my part" or "the pleasure is mine".
Did you know?
- The greeting hallo has its roots in the ancient practice of calling out to a ferryman across a river to signal your arrival. It is believed to have evolved from the imperative of a word meaning 'to fetch'.
- In many German-speaking regions, a handshake that is too limp when saying schön Sie kennenzulernen can be perceived as a lack of confidence or sincerity.
- In a professional German setting, you might hear the phrase Sehr angenehm as a more clipped and sophisticated version of Freut mich.
Examples in context
- Es freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen, Herr Mayer.It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Mayer.
- Schön, dich kennenzulernen, Anna.Nice to meet you, Anna.
- Hallo, schön dich kennenzulernen!Hello, nice to meet you!
- Hallo, schön dich kennenzulernen, ich bin Sarah.Hello, nice to meet you, I am Sarah.
- Hallo, schön dich kennenzulernen, wie geht es dir?Hello, nice to meet you, how are you?
Example conversation
Hannah and Lukas meet at a friend's birthday party.
- HannahHallo, schön dich kennenzulernen, ich bin Hannah.Hello, nice to meet you, I am Hannah.
- LukasHallo Hannah, ich bin Lukas. Freut mich auch.Hello Hannah, I am Lukas. Pleased to meet you too.
- HannahKommst du auch aus Berlin?Do you also come from Berlin?
- LukasNein, ich wohne in München.No, I live in Munich.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Hallo, dich, hallo, schön, CC BY-SA 4.0.
