hallo
/ˈhalo/
Hi in German is 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 a friendly, informal greeting. hallo is a basic and widely used informal greeting similar to hello in English.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
hallo is the standard informal way to say hi or hello. While hallo is informal, grüezi is a formal or semi-formal greeting used specifically in Swiss German.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Alemannic-speaking areas, such as parts of Switzerland and Southwestern Germany, you may hear sali or hoi. In Swiss German, hoi is particularly common. In the Swabian region of Germany, Grüß Gott is a common greeting. In Bavaria, locals might say Servus, which can also mean goodbye.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈhalo/
Did you know?
- The greeting hallo may have originated as a specific shout to hail a ferryman across a river. It is related to the Old High German word holōn, which meant to fetch or go and get something.
- The greeting Grüß Gott is not just a way to say 'hello' but is actually a way of saying 'greet God'. It is the standard polite way to greet people in much of Southern Germany and Austria.
- While grüezi is common in Switzerland, using it in Northern Germany might lead locals to think you are imitating a Swiss person.
Examples in context
- Hallo, bist du Tom?Hi, are you Tom?This example shows how to use hallo to ask 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 example uses hallo to describe someone who never says hi.Tatoeba #2653128 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2653115 by Hybrid
- Hallo, wie geht's dir?Hi, how are you?This example uses hallo when asking how someone is doing.Tatoeba #4776757 by Germic, translation #473177 by exjimmy
- Hallo Maria, wie geht es dir?Hello Maria, how are you?
- Ich wollte nur schnell 'Hallo' sagen.I just wanted to say 'hi' quickly.
- Moin, wie läuft's?Hi, how's it going?
- Moin, was machst du hier?Hey, what are you doing here?
- 98 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Maximilian meet on a sidewalk.
- JuliaHallo, Maximilian!Hi, Maximilian!
- MaximilianHallo, Julia. Wie geht es dir?Hi, Julia. How are you?
- JuliaMir geht es gut, danke.I am doing well, thanks.
- MaximilianDas freut mich zu hören.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.
