hallo
/ˈhalo/
The English phrase 'hi' can be translated into German as hallo. Wiktionary also lists 'n Tag and sali.
Meaning: friendly, informal greeting (intj)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| hallo | /ˈhalo/ /haˈloː/ |
|
| 'n Tag | ||
| sali | Alemannic German | |
| hoi | /hɔʏ̯/ | Alemannic German |
| grüezi | Alemannic German |
The phrase is used as a friendly, informal greeting.
Which one should you use?
While hallo is informal, Guten Tag is the standard formal way to say hello in a professional or polite setting.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
hallo is a versatile, informal greeting suitable for friends, family and casual acquaintances.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Alemannic-German speaking areas like Switzerland and parts of Southern Germany, you may hear sali, hoi or grüezi. Specifically in Switzerland, grüezi is a polite, regional greeting.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈhalo/
Did you know?
- The word hallo did not start as a friendly greeting, but as a loud shout used to call out to a ferryman to bring his boat to the shore.
Examples in context
- Hallo, bist du Tom?Hi, are you Tom?This sentence shows how to use hallo when asking if someone is Tom.Tatoeba #4047079 by g_j, translation #4036990 by Hybrid
- Er sagt mir nie hallo.He never says hi to me.This sentence shows an instance of someone not saying hallo to a person.Tatoeba #2653128 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2653115 by Hybrid
- Hallo, wie geht's dir?Hi, how are you?This sentence shows how to use hallo when asking how someone is doing.Tatoeba #4776757 by Germic, translation #473177 by exjimmy
- Guten Tag, schönes Wetter heute, oder haben Sie den Regen bestellt?Good day, nice weather today, or did you order the rain?
- Juten Tach! Kommste mit? Ich zeige dir deinen neuen Lieblings-Kreuzberg-Döner!Good day! Wanna come along? I'll show you your new favorite Kreuzberg kebab!
- 98 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Laura meet at a local cafe.
- LukasHallo, Laura!Hello, Laura!
- LauraHallo, Lukas. Wie läuft es?Hello, Lukas. How is it going?
- LukasAlles super, danke.Everything is great, thanks.
- LauraDas freut mich.I am happy to hear that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hi” translations and entries hallo, hoi, grüezi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 'n, Tag, hallo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
