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German Phrases and Greetings: What to Say in Every Situation
The right German phrases get you further than a hundred grammar rules. With a few dozen well-chosen expressions you can greet a neighbor, thank a waiter, apologize on a crowded train and make small talk at a party. This guide collects the common German phrases you’ll actually use, organized by situation, with the formal and informal versions and notes on when Germans really say them.
Start readingSee all lessonsQuick answer: the 10 German phrases to learn first
Hallo (hello), Guten Tag (good day), Tschüss (bye), Danke (thanks), Bitte (please / you’re welcome), Entschuldigung (excuse me / sorry), Ja / Nein (yes / no), Wie geht’s? (how are you?), Ich verstehe nicht (I don’t understand) and Sprechen Sie Englisch? (do you speak English?).
In this guide
Greetings by time of day
German greetings follow the clock more than English ones do. Here are the basic German phrases for saying hello, with roughly when each one fits.
| German | English | When to use it | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guten Morgen | Good morning | Until about 10-11 am | Neutral |
| Guten Tag | Good day / hello | Late morning to early evening | Polite, formal |
| Guten Abend | Good evening | From about 6 pm | Neutral to formal |
| Hallo | Hello | Any time | Neutral, friendly |
| Hi / Hey | Hi | Friends, younger people | Informal |
| Moin | Hi | Northern Germany, any time of day | Informal, regional |
| Grüß Gott / Servus | Hello | Bavaria and Austria | Regional |
| Grüezi | Hello | Switzerland | Polite, regional |
| Gute Nacht | Good night | Only when going to bed | Neutral |
Guten Tag is the safe choice with strangers, in shops and on the phone. Read the full guide: Guten Tag meaning: how and when to say it.
Pronunciation tip
In Tag, the final g sounds like a k: “tahk”. German b, d and g lose their voice at the end of a word, so Abend ends in a t sound.
Goodbyes and “see you”
| German | English | Register |
|---|---|---|
| Auf Wiedersehen | Goodbye | Formal |
| Auf Wiederhören | Goodbye (on the phone) | Formal |
| Tschüss | Bye | Informal, very common |
| Ciao | Bye | Informal |
| Bis später | See you later | Neutral |
| Bis morgen | See you tomorrow | Neutral |
| Bis bald | See you soon | Neutral |
| Schönen Tag noch! | Have a nice day! | Neutral, shops and service |
| Schönes Wochenende! | Have a nice weekend! | Neutral, on Fridays |
In shops it’s normal to say a short goodbye when you leave: Tschüss! or Schönen Tag noch! Walking out silently can come across as rude.
Thank you, please and sorry
Thank you
| German | English | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Danke | Thanks | Basic |
| Danke schön / Danke sehr | Thank you very much | Warmer |
| Vielen Dank | Many thanks | Polite, also in writing |
| Herzlichen Dank | Heartfelt thanks | Warm, formal |
| Tausend Dank | A thousand thanks | Enthusiastic, informal |
Confused by the spelling? We explain it in Danke schön, Dankeschön or danke sehr?
Please and you’re welcome
Bitte is one of the most useful German words. It means “please” when you ask (Einen Kaffee, bitte), “you’re welcome” after a thank-you (Danke! – Bitte!), “here you go” when you hand something over (Bitte schön), and “pardon?” when you didn’t catch something (Bitte?). Other replies to thanks: Gern geschehen (my pleasure), Gerne (gladly), Kein Problem (no problem).
Excuse me and sorry
| German | Use it to… |
|---|---|
| Entschuldigung | Get attention, squeeze past someone, or apologize for something small |
| Entschuldigen Sie bitte | Politely address a stranger: “Excuse me, …” |
| Sorry | Casual apology, very common among younger Germans |
| Es tut mir leid | Say you’re sorry and mean it, or express sympathy |
| Verzeihung | Formal or slightly old-fashioned “pardon” |
Celebrations and wishes
| Occasion | German | English |
|---|---|---|
| Birthday | Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! | Happy birthday! (literally “all the best for your birthday”) |
| Birthday (more formal) | Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag! | Congratulations on your birthday |
| Christmas | Frohe Weihnachten! | Merry Christmas! |
| Before New Year | Guten Rutsch! | Have a good slide into the new year |
| After New Year | Frohes neues Jahr! | Happy New Year! |
| Easter | Frohe Ostern! | Happy Easter! |
| A toast | Prost! / Zum Wohl! | Cheers! |
| Exam, interview | Viel Glück! / Viel Erfolg! | Good luck! |
| Someone is ill | Gute Besserung! | Get well soon! |
| A meal | Guten Appetit! / Mahlzeit! | Enjoy your meal! |
One cultural rule: Germans traditionally don’t wish someone a happy birthday before the actual day. It’s considered bad luck. Details in Happy birthday in German.
Small talk and introductions
Introducing yourself
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich heiße … / Mein Name ist … | My name is … |
| Ich komme aus … | I come from … |
| Ich wohne in … | I live in … |
| Ich arbeite als … | I work as a … |
| Ich lerne Deutsch. | I’m learning German. |
| Freut mich! / Schön, Sie kennenzulernen. | Nice to meet you. |
Asking how someone is
Wie geht’s? (informal) and Wie geht es Ihnen? (formal) both mean “how are you?” Unlike in English, Germans often answer honestly, so be ready for more than “fine”. Short replies: Gut, danke. Und dir? / Und Ihnen? (Good, thanks. And you?), Es geht (so-so), Nicht so gut (not so good).
Agreeing and disagreeing
Beyond ja, Germans constantly say genau (exactly), klar (sure), stimmt (true) and okay. See Yes in German: ja, genau, klar and more. To disagree politely, say Ich sehe das ein bisschen anders (I see that a bit differently) or Da bin ich mir nicht so sicher (I’m not so sure about that).
Classroom, phone and directions
Survival phrases for learners
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich verstehe das nicht. | I don’t understand that. |
| Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? | Could you repeat that, please? |
| Langsamer, bitte. | Slower, please. |
| Was bedeutet …? | What does … mean? |
| Wie sagt man … auf Deutsch? | How do you say … in German? |
| Sprechen Sie Englisch? | Do you speak English? |
On the phone
Many Germans answer the phone with their surname, for example Müller? or Müller, hallo? You can say Guten Tag, hier spricht … (hello, this is … speaking) and end with Auf Wiederhören, the phone version of goodbye.
Directions
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Wo ist …? | Where is …? |
| Wie komme ich zum Bahnhof? | How do I get to the station? |
| geradeaus / links / rechts | straight on / left / right |
| Ist es weit? | Is it far? |
Travel, restaurant and email phrases
At a restaurant or café
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Einen Tisch für zwei, bitte. | A table for two, please. |
| Ich hätte gern … | I would like … |
| Die Rechnung, bitte. / Zahlen, bitte. | The bill, please. |
| Zusammen oder getrennt? | Together or separately? (the server asks this) |
| Stimmt so. | Keep the change. |
Travel
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Eine Fahrkarte nach Berlin, bitte. | A ticket to Berlin, please. |
| Von welchem Gleis fährt der Zug? | Which platform does the train leave from? |
| Wo ist die Toilette? | Where is the restroom? |
| Kann ich mit Karte zahlen? | Can I pay by card? |
Email openings and closings
| Formal | Informal |
|---|---|
| Sehr geehrte Frau Schmidt, | Liebe Anna, / Lieber Tom, |
| Guten Tag Herr Weber, (modern, still polite) | Hallo Max, |
| Mit freundlichen Grüßen | Viele Grüße / Liebe Grüße / LG |
Formal vs informal: du vs Sie
German has two words for “you”. Du is for friends, family, children, and often colleagues and people your age in casual settings. Sie (always with a capital S) is for strangers, older people, officials, shop staff and anyone in a professional relationship. When in doubt, use Sie and wait for the other person to offer du (Wollen wir uns duzen?, “shall we say du to each other?”).
Why du and Sie feel tricky
English speakers have to learn a social rule along with the grammar. Luckily, Germans forgive learners who use Sie too often. Using du too early is the riskier mistake, so default to formal.
Free: 100 Everyday German Phrases
A printable list of the most useful phrases by situation. Download the free PDF.
All phrase guides
FAQs
What are the most common German phrases?
Hallo, Guten Tag, Tschüss, Danke, Bitte, Entschuldigung, Ja, Nein, Wie geht’s? and Ich verstehe nicht cover most everyday moments.
How do you say hello in German?
Hallo works everywhere. Use Guten Tag with strangers, Guten Morgen in the morning and Guten Abend in the evening. In the north you’ll hear Moin, in the south Grüß Gott or Servus.
Is Tschüss rude?
No. Tschüss is friendly and very common, even with shop staff. Only in very formal situations should you prefer Auf Wiedersehen.
How do you say you’re welcome in German?
Bitte, bitte schön, gern geschehen or simply gerne.
What is a polite way to say I want in German?
Say Ich hätte gern … or Ich möchte …. Ich will … can sound demanding.
Should I use du or Sie?
Use Sie with strangers and in professional settings, du with friends, family and children. If unsure, choose Sie.
Sources and further reading: Check spelling and usage in Duden and real-life examples in DWDS.