Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| mit freundlichen Grüßen | |
| hochachtungsvoll | |
| Ihr ergebener | |
| viele liebe Grüße | /ˈfiːlə ˈliːbə ˈɡʁyːsə/ |
These phrases are used as polite, formulaic endings for letters and correspondence.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase mit freundlichen Grüßen literally translates to "with friendly greetings".
Which one should you use?
mit freundlichen Grüßen is the standard, neutral-to-formal way to end business correspondence. In contrast, hochachtungsvoll is extremely formal and can sometimes feel cold or distant. For people you know personally, such as friends and family, use viele liebe Grüße, which means "many dear greetings".
How does it change in a sentence?
The formal sign-off Ihr ergebener is masculine. If the person writing the letter is female, it must change to Ihre ergebene.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly add a comma after the German closing formula, but in German, no comma is used after the sign-off.
Did you know?
- In older German correspondence, the phrase Ihr ergebener signaled a hierarchy of submission, meaning 'your devoted servant'. It is now rarely used except in extremely traditional or legal contexts.
- The formal pronoun Ihr used in Ihr ergebener is a cognate of the archaic English pronoun 'ye'. Both descend from the Proto-Germanic word for the second person plural.
Example sentences for German are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Julia is teaching Julian how to end a formal business email.
- JuliaWie beendet man diese E-Mail?How do you end this email?
- JulianSchreib am Ende: Mit freundlichen Grüßen.Write at the end: Yours sincerely.
- JuliaIst das sehr formell?Is that very formal?
- JulianJa, das passt für Geschäftsbriefe.Yes, that is suitable for business letters.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yours sincerely” translations and entries mit freundlichen Grüßen, hochachtungsvoll, viele liebe Grüße, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries grüßen, ihr, mit, mit freundlichen Grüßen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
