Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| mit freundlichen Grüßen | |
| viele Grüße | /ˈfiːlə ˈɡʁyːsə/ (word by word) |
| beste Grüße |
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase mit freundlichen Grüßen literally translates to "with friendly greetings".
Which one should you use?
While mit freundlichen Grüßen is the standard formal closing, mit besten Grüßen serve as slightly less formal alternatives that remain appropriate for professional contexts. For much more casual situations, you can use viele Grüße, which translates to "many greetings" or Liebe Grüße, meaning "best wishes", which is suitable for friends and semi-formal settings. For very casual messages, Alles Gute can be used to mean "all the best" or "best of luck".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal business letters and official correspondence, mit freundlichen Grüßen is the standard. In professional settings where you want to be slightly less formal, you may use mit besten Grüßen. For informal communication with friends, family or acquaintances, use viele Grüße or Liebe Grüße. The formal Hochachtungsvoll, meaning "yours sincerely/respectfully", is also used in business correspondence.
What mistakes should you avoid?
When using a German closing like mit freundlichen Grüßen, do not add a comma after the phrase. English speakers often mistakenly include a comma before the signature, but in standard German, no comma is used between the closing and the signature.
Did you know?
- Using the formal mit freundlichen Grüßen in a text message to a close friend can be interpreted as a passive-aggressive signal that the writer is angry.
- In digital communication, Germans often shorten Liebe Grüße to LG or Viele Grüße to VG, creating a shorthand culture for greetings.
- If you use the extremely formal Hochachtungsvoll instead of mit freundlichen Grüßen, you might accidentally sound cold or even dismissive in modern business contexts.
Examples in context
- Mit freundlichen Grüßen, SiljaBest regards, Silja.This example shows how to use mit freundlichen Grüßen to sign off a letter to Silja.Tatoeba #3381606 by freddy1, translation #2662176 by tsp_2
- Mit freundlichen Grüßen.Best regards.This example demonstrates the use of mit freundlichen Grüßen as a standalone closing.Tatoeba #4299343 by Globetrotter, translation #4299336 by Globetrotter
- 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 how to write mit freundlichen Grüßen at the bottom of a letter before a signature.Tatoeba #430496 by MikeDee, translation #430892 by saeb
Example conversation
Lukas is helping Julia write a formal email to a professor.
- JuliaWie endet man diese E-Mail?How do I end this email?
- LukasSchreib am besten: Mit freundlichen Grüßen.You should better write: Mit freundlichen Grüßen.
- JuliaIst das zu förmlich für ihn?Is that too formal for him?
- LukasNein, das passt perfekt für einen Professor.No, that fits perfectly for a professor.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “regards” translations and entries mit freundlichen Grüßen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (viele, Grüße) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
