Hallo Schwester
/haˈloː ˈʃvɛstɐ/word by word
The English phrase 'hi sister' translates to German as Hallo Schwester.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In northern Germany, you can use the informal greeting Moin, Schwester! to say 'Hi sister'. In southern Germany, the informal greeting Grüß dich, Schwester! is used, which means 'Greetings to you, sister!'
When do people say it?
A very common and affectionate way to address a sister in German is Schwesterherz. This term of endearment translates to 'sister heart' and is similar to saying 'dear sister'.
Did you know?
- Though 'sister' is a kinship term, in German, the word Schwester can also be used in certain contexts to refer to a nurse in a hospital.
- The greeting hallo shares an ancient root with the word for hailing a ferryman, originally used to signal someone to fetch a boat across a river.
- While Hallo is common, the northern greeting Moin is often used as both 'hello' and 'goodbye' throughout the entire day.
Example conversation
Lukas walks into the room where Sarah is sitting.
- LukasHallo Schwester, hast du Zeit?Hi sister, do you have time?
- SarahJa, was gibt es denn?Yes, what is it?
- LukasIch brauche Hilfe bei meinen Hausaufgaben.I need help with my homework.
- SarahKlar, ich helfe dir gerne.Sure, I'll be happy to help you.
