Learning Objectives:
When you have finished this lesson you can:
Greet formally and informally
Greet at different times of the day
Introduce yourself and others
Say goodbye
Learning Objectives:
When you have finished this lesson you can:
Greet formally and informally
Greet at different times of the day
Introduce yourself and others
Say goodbye
Steve meets Maria and Peter. Notice how they greet each others.
Touch the video to start it.
Steve meets Maria and Peter. Notice how they greet each others.
Touch the video to start it.
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Peter | |
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Maria |
"Hallo" is the most common regard in Austria and Germany. You can use “hallo” both to greet someone and greet again.
"Hallo" is the most common regard in Austria and Germany. You can use “hallo” both to greet someone and greet again.
Austrians and Germans usually say "Hallo" and give hand the first time they meet. A greeting is almost always followed by a handshake. Sometimes, Austrians and Germans give a hug to people they know well.
On the next page you will learn some greetings for more formal situations. You should use those greetings when you meet someone for the first time. You can always give hands while giving courtesy to someone.
Austrians and Germans usually say "Hallo" and give hand the first time they meet. A greeting is almost always followed by a handshake. Sometimes, Austrians and Germans give a hug to people they know well.
On the next page you will learn some greetings for more formal situations. You should use those greetings when you meet someone for the first time. You can always give hands while giving courtesy to someone.
The most common, slightly formal greeting:
The most common, slightly formal greeting:
In the morning you say:
In the morning you say:
In the evening you say:
In the evening you say:
When you go to bed you say
When you go to bed you say
German has a formal and an informal version of the word "you".
informal = “du” + first name
formal = “Sie” (courtesy form) + “Herr”/”Frau” + surname
Normally, you use "Sie" for every adult person you don't know and you are not relative with. If you use the courtesy form “Sie” you also use the surname of the person with “Herr” for men or “Frau” for women, e.g. “Herr Miller” or “Frau Krüger”. Notice that the courtesy form is always capitalized.
The only exception are younger adults like students - they address each other with the informal "du" and their first names.
If you are more familiar with a person you can use "du" (in German it is described with the verb "duzen") but both have to agree with this.
If you don't know which one is the right form of address just use "Sie". That's very polite and your opposite will signal you if you can already change to "du".
German has a formal and an informal version of the word "you".
informal = “du” + first name
formal = “Sie” (courtesy form) + “Herr”/”Frau” + surname
Normally, you use "Sie" for every adult person you don't know and you are not relative with. If you use the courtesy form “Sie” you also use the surname of the person with “Herr” for men or “Frau” for women, e.g. “Herr Miller” or “Frau Krüger”. Notice that the courtesy form is always capitalized.
The only exception are younger adults like students - they address each other with the informal "du" and their first names.
If you are more familiar with a person you can use "du" (in German it is described with the verb "duzen") but both have to agree with this.
If you don't know which one is the right form of address just use "Sie". That's very polite and your opposite will signal you if you can already change to "du".
After a greeting, you can use the following phrase to start the conversation
After a greeting, you can use the following phrase to start the conversation
As answer to this question you can use:
As answer to this question you can use:
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Yes | |
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No |
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Hallo | |
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Guten Morgen | |
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Guten Abend | |
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Gute Nacht | |
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Guten Tag |
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Danke, gut. | |
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Und dir? | |
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Mir geht’s gut. | |
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Hallo, wie geht’s? |
When presenting yourself, use the term “ich bin” (I am) oder “ich heiße” (literally: “I’m called”, meaning “My name is”).
When presenting yourself, use the term “ich bin” (I am) oder “ich heiße” (literally: “I’m called”, meaning “My name is”).
“Sein” (to be) and “heißen” (to be called)
“Sein” (to be) and “heißen” (to be called)
Now you can already understand a poem of the German poet Irina Rauthmann:
“Ich bin ihr.
Ihr seid ich.
Wir sind du.
Du bist wir.“
Now you can already understand a poem of the German poet Irina Rauthmann:
“Ich bin ihr.
Ihr seid ich.
Wir sind du.
Du bist wir.“
When you are going to introduce others you can use the same two verbs – “sein” or “heißen”:
When you are going to introduce others you can use the same two verbs – “sein” or “heißen”:
To ask someone’s name use the word “wie” (how) like in “Wie geht’s dir?” (How are you?)
To ask someone’s name use the word “wie” (how) like in “Wie geht’s dir?” (How are you?)
Try to compare with the way you say your own name. Note that the verb “heißen” is used in both cases.
Try to compare with the way you say your own name. Note that the verb “heißen” is used in both cases.
Tell Peter that your name is Steve Miller.
Tell Peter that your name is Steve Miller.
Present Maria
Present Maria
Answer Maria correctly:
Answer Maria correctly:
“Auf Wiedersehen” (formal) can be used in all situations when you leave each other.
“Auf Wiedersehen” (formal) can be used in all situations when you leave each other.
“Tschüss” can be used in more informal situations.
“Tschüss” can be used in more informal situations.
There are several ways to say goodbye in Austria and Germany:
Auf Wiedersehen (Goodbye)
Tschüss (Bye bye)
Einen schönen Tag noch (Have a nice day, Lit: A nice day still)
Mach’s gut (informal - take care, Lit: Make it well)
Bis bald (See you, Lit. Until soon))
Bis dann (See you, Lit. Until then)
Bis morgen (See you tomorrow, Lit. Until tomorrow)
Schönes Wochenende (Nice weekend)
Austrians and Germans give hand (most formal way), give each other a hug (more familiar) or wave when they say goodbye.
There are several ways to say goodbye in Austria and Germany:
Auf Wiedersehen (Goodbye)
Tschüss (Bye bye)
Einen schönen Tag noch (Have a nice day, Lit: A nice day still)
Mach’s gut (informal - take care, Lit: Make it well)
Bis bald (See you, Lit. Until soon))
Bis dann (See you, Lit. Until then)
Bis morgen (See you tomorrow, Lit. Until tomorrow)
Schönes Wochenende (Nice weekend)
Austrians and Germans give hand (most formal way), give each other a hug (more familiar) or wave when they say goodbye.
This is a less common way to say goodbye:
This is a less common way to say goodbye:
You can answer:
You can answer:
A very informal way:
A very informal way:
You can answer:
You can answer:
There are many regionals differences in the way to greet someone and to say good bye.But no worry: the words you've learned until now you can use everywhere in Austria and Germany - and you'll be understood.
For example, on the coasts in Germany the inhabitants say "Moin, Moin" for "hello", in the south of Germany and in Austria they greet with "Grüß Gott". Other words for "Bye bye" are "Tschöö" in the region around Cologne, "Ade" in the southwest of Germany and "Ba-Ba" in Austria.
From the middle to the south of Germany and in whole Austria, you can use one word for "Hello" and "Bye bye": simply "Servus".
There are many regionals differences in the way to greet someone and to say good bye.But no worry: the words you've learned until now you can use everywhere in Austria and Germany - and you'll be understood.
For example, on the coasts in Germany the inhabitants say "Moin, Moin" for "hello", in the south of Germany and in Austria they greet with "Grüß Gott". Other words for "Bye bye" are "Tschöö" in the region around Cologne, "Ade" in the southwest of Germany and "Ba-Ba" in Austria.
From the middle to the south of Germany and in whole Austria, you can use one word for "Hello" and "Bye bye": simply "Servus".
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Right | |
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Wrong |
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Danke, Ihnen auch. | |
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Mach’s gut. | |
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Danke, dir auch. | |
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Tschüss. | |
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Danke gleichfalls. |
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Right | |
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Wrong |
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Right | |
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Wrong |
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Ich heiße Steve. | |
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Dir auch. | |
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Danke, gut. | |
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Und Ihnen? |
Ask her about her name. Use the informal term.
Ask her about her name. Use the informal term.
Ask Maria: How are you?.
(You still know her.)
Ask Maria: How are you?.
(You still know her.)
Answer correct.
Answer correct.
Answer correct. (Remember your role in this game ;-)
Answer correct. (Remember your role in this game ;-)
Ask this unknown woman for her name.
Ask this unknown woman for her name.
Introduce Maria to another person.
Introduce Maria to another person.
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Right | |
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Wrong |
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Section completed | ![]() |
Exercise | Result | Your answer | Correct answer |