There are six common greetings to say hello in German, and the right one depends on formality and region. Hallo works in almost any casual situation. While the Guten Tag is the standard choice with strangers, older people, and in business, roughly between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Ways to say it
Hallo, wie geht's?
Hi, how's it going?
Guten Tag, mein Name ist Frau Weber.
Good day, my name is Mrs. Weber.
Servus, schön dich zu sehen!
Hey, nice to see you!
Grüß Gott, kann ich Ihnen helfen?
Hello, can I help you?
Moin! Alles klar?
Hi! All good?
Hi, wie war dein Tag?
Hi, how was your day?
Hallo vs. Guten Tag: What’s the Difference?
Hallo usually suits friends, classmates, and casual encounters at any hour. But, the Guten Tag suits first meetings and business hours, with people you don't know well. Neither greeting is rude - Guten Tag simply signals more distance and respect than Hallo does.
The Regional Greetings You'll Mostly Hear
The regional german greetings Servus and Grüß Gott that are commonly spoken in Bavaria and Austria, not nationwide. Moin works at any time of day in northern Germany, unlike English morning greetings. Using a regional greeting outside its region isn't wrong, but it can mark you as a visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Hallo and Guten Tag?+
Hallo is casual and fits any time of day. Guten Tag is the formal greeting for business hours and people you don't know well.
Is Guten Tag rude to use with friends?+
No. Guten Tag is never rude - it's simply more formal than most friends use with each other.
Are Servus and Moin understood everywhere in Germany?+
They're understood everywhere but used regionally: Servus in Bavaria and Austria, Moin in the north. Hallo and Guten Tag work nationwide.
How do I practice these six greetings?+
Select the greetings you want on this page, then start Flashcards, Multiple Choice, or a Final Test from the bar at the bottom.
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Practice tips
- ✓Tap play to hear each phrase before you try saying it yourself.
- ✓Notice which options are formal and which are informal before you use them.
- ✓Practice the example sentence, not just the phrase on its own — that's how it's actually used.