TooterHow to say hello in German
Hello in German is hallo (HAH-loh). It works with almost anyone, any time of day. For a more polite hello in shops and offices, say Guten Tag, or Guten Morgen in the morning.
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Where will you say hallo?
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Every way to say hello
Hallo is always safe. The others add politeness, a time of day or local flavor.
Neutral and friendly. Fine with friends, strangers and shop staff alike.
The classic polite greeting in shops, offices and with people you don't know, from late morning on. Casually shortened to Tag!
Until about 10 or 11 a.m. Friends and coworkers often shorten it to Morgen!
From about 6 p.m. Gute Nacht is only for saying good night, never as a greeting.
Borrowed from English. Common among friends and younger people, and in texts.
Regional: northern Germany. Used any time of day (not just in the morning), even in shops.
Regional: Bavaria and Austria, with friends and people you know. Works as both hello and goodbye.
Regional: southern Germany and Austria, the polite everyday hello there. In Switzerland, people say Grüezi.
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Saying hello to someone new
Meeting someone at a language exchange in a café.
How to pronounce hallo
Stress the first syllable
Most people stress the first syllable: HAH-loh. That includes calling out for attention (Hallo? Is anyone there?). Stressing the end, hah-LOH, sounds more like happy surprise.
Keep the vowels pure
The a is open and short, like a quick a in father. The o is a clean oh, without the oh-oo glide of English hello.
Why Guten and not Gut
Guten Tag is short for Ich wünsche Ihnen einen guten Tag (I wish you a good day), so the adjective takes the -en ending. Gute Nacht ends in -e because Nacht is feminine.
Greet the room
A handshake with eye contact is normal at first meetings and in business; friends often hug. Saying Hallo or Guten Tag when you walk into a small shop or a waiting room is polite and expected.
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@learningwith.michelleQuestions learners ask
How do you say hi in German?
Say hallo (HAH-loh), or Hi and Hey with friends. In northern Germany you'll hear Moin, and in Bavaria and Austria, Servus.
What is a proper German greeting?
Guten Tag with a handshake is the classic polite greeting for strangers, offices and business. Use Guten Morgen before about 10 or 11 a.m. and Guten Abend in the evening. With people your age in casual settings, Hallo is fine.
Do Germans still say Guten Tag?
Yes, especially in shops, offices, on the phone and with older people. In casual speech it is often shortened to Tag!, and younger people tend to use Hallo instead.
Do Germans say "hi"?
Yes. Hi and Hey are common among friends and younger people, and many texts and emails between friends start with Hi. You'll also hear playful forms like Hallöchen and Hallihallo.
How do you answer the phone in German?
Traditionally, Germans answer with their last name, such as Schmidt? or Hier ist Schmidt, especially at work. On mobile phones, a simple Hallo? or Ja, hallo? is common.
What are the top 5 German phrases?
Start with Hallo (hello), Danke (thank you), Bitte (please), Entschuldigung (excuse me) and Sprechen Sie Englisch? (Do you speak English?). Tschüss (bye) is a good sixth.
What is German for "I am sorry"?
Es tut mir leid means I'm sorry, for a real apology or to show sympathy. For small slips, like bumping into someone, Entschuldigung (excuse me, sorry) is enough.
How do you respond to hallo?
Say Hallo back, often with Wie geht's? (How's it going?). If someone says Guten Tag, answer Guten Tag. With Tooter you can practice that exchange out loud with an AI tutor until it feels automatic.
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Updated October 27, 2026. Tooter tutors are AI characters, not human teachers.