German Greetings: Hello, Goodbye and More
The most common German greetings are “Hallo” (hello), “Guten Morgen” (good morning), “Guten Tag” (good day), “Guten Abend” (good evening), and to say goodbye “Tschüss” (informal) or “Auf Wiedersehen” (formal). Add “Danke” (thanks) and “Bitte” (please) and you can open almost any conversation politely.
Greetings are the first German you will use every day — in a shop, at the Bürgeramt, or meeting a neighbour. German draws a clear line between formal and informal, so picking the right greeting matters.
Use “Tschüss” and “Hallo” with friends and peers; use “Auf Wiedersehen” and “Guten Tag” with officials, older people and in shops. When unsure, the formal option is always safe.
Word list
Tips
- In southern Germany and Austria you will also hear “Grüß Gott” as a formal hello and “Servus” as a casual hello/bye.
- “Bitte” means both “please” and “you’re welcome” — context tells them apart.
- For a formal “how are you?”, use “Wie geht es Ihnen?” instead of “Wie geht es dir?”.
FAQ
What is the most common German greeting?
“Hallo” is the everyday all-purpose greeting, usable at any time of day in informal and neutral situations. For formal settings, “Guten Tag” is the safe choice.
How do you say goodbye in German?
“Tschüss” is the casual goodbye among friends; “Auf Wiedersehen” is the formal one used in shops and offices. On the phone, Germans often say “Auf Wiederhören”.
When do I use formal vs. informal greetings?
Use informal (“Hallo”, “Tschüss”, “Wie geht es dir?”) with friends, family and peers. Use formal (“Guten Tag”, “Auf Wiedersehen”, “Wie geht es Ihnen?”) with strangers, officials and older people.