German Greetings: 30 Ways to Say Hello and Goodbye Like a Local
The universal German greeting is 'Hallo' (informal) and 'Guten Tag' (formal). Regional variants include Moin (north), Servus and Grüß Gott (south). Goodbyes range from casual 'Tschüss' to formal 'Auf Wiedersehen'. Choosing formal vs informal depends on setting, region, and relationship.
Germans take greetings seriously — skipping them feels rude fast. Here's every greeting that matters, sorted by situation.
Formal greetings (strangers, shops, work)
| German | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| Guten Morgen | good morning | until ~10:00 |
| Guten Tag | good day | default formal, daytime |
| Guten Abend | good evening | from ~17:00 |
| Auf Wiedersehen | goodbye (formal) | ending formal talks |
Casual greetings (friends, young people)
| German | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hallo | hello | always safe |
| Hi / Hey | hi | imported, very common |
| Moin | hi (any time!) | north Germany |
| Servus | hey/bye | Bavaria/Austria |
| Na? | well? (hi) | ultra-casual among friends |
Regional flavor: what locals actually say
- Berlin: 'Na, wie läuft's?' (How's it going?)
- Hamburg: 'Moin Moin' — yes, doubled
- Munich: 'Grüß Gott' even in banks
- Cologne: 'Alles klar?' doubles as greeting
Goodbyes beyond tschüss
- Tschüss / Tschüssi — casual standard
- Bis bald — see you soon
- Wir sehen uns — we'll see each other
- Schönen Tag noch — have a nice day (shops)
Frequently asked questions
What does Guten Tag literally mean?
'Good day.' It's the safe formal default anywhere in Germany between morning and evening — with strangers, officials, and in shops.
Is Tschüss rude?
Not among friends or peers. With strangers, elderly people, or in formal settings, prefer 'Auf Wiedersehen' until they offer the informal tone first.
Where do people say Moin?
Northern Germany (Hamburg, Bremen, coast) and parts of the Netherlands. Unlike most greetings it works any time of day.
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