mit freundlichen Grüßen
The English phrase "kind regards" can be translated into German as mit freundlichen Grüßen.
mit freundlichen Grüßen is a common way to express "Kind regards" in formal situations.
Meaning: polite closing of a letter (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "with friendly greetings".
Which one should you use?
While mit freundlichen Grüßen is the standard professional choice, Mit besten Grüßen can be used to express a slightly warmer sentiment. For less formal situations, such as semi-formal or friendly emails, Viele Grüße is a common alternative.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
mit freundlichen Grüßen is the standard, professional way to end formal business correspondence. If you are writing to acquaintances or colleagues you know well, you might use the less formal Herzliche Grüße or the more casual Viele Grüße.
How does it change in a sentence?
The first word of the closing is capitalized when used as a formal sign-off: Mit freundlichen Grüßen.
Did you know?
- In German, unlike in English, you never put a comma after your closing phrase. Writing Mit freundlichen Grüßen with a comma is a common mistake for English speakers, but in German, the phrase stands alone.
- If you use Mit freundlichen Grüßen but address the recipient by their first name, it can be perceived as passive-aggressive or cold.
- The English word 'greet' and the German verb grüßen share the same ancient Proto-West Germanic ancestor, meaning they are linguistic cousins.
Examples in context
- Am Ende des Briefes schrieb er „Mit freundlichen Grüßen“, dann unterschrieb er.At the bottom of the letter he wrote "Kind regards," then signed his name.This sentence shows the placement of mit freundlichen Grüßen at the bottom of a letter.Tatoeba #430496 by MikeDee, translation #430892 by saeb
- Ich beende meine E-Mail mit „Mit freundlichen Grüßen“.I end my email with "Kind regards".
- „Mit freundlichen Grüßen“ ist eine Standardformel für Geschäftsbriefe."Kind regards" is a standard formula for business letters.
Example conversation
Maximilian and Julia are discussing formal email etiquette at the office.
- MaximilianWie schließt man eine formelle E-Mail am besten?How do you best close a formal email?
- JuliaSchreib einfach „Mit freundlichen Grüßen“, Maximilian.Just write "Kind regards", Maximilian.
- MaximilianIst das auch für Kunden passend?Is that also appropriate for customers?
- JuliaJa, das ist sehr professionell.Yes, that is very professional.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kind regards” translations and entries mit freundlichen Grüßen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries grüßen, mit, mit freundlichen Grüßen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
