In German, “hello” is most commonly said as Hallo , pronounced “hah- loh” (with a clear, open “ah” sound and a soft “oh” at the end). It’s neutral enough for both casual and many professional settings.
Pronunciation basics
- Hallo : IPA roughly /ˈhalo/; stress on the first syllable. Think “hah” as in father + “loh” as in low without the English “w” glide.
- The h is lightly aspirated, not silent.
- The a is a pure, open vowel, not the diphthong you hear in English “hello.”
- The double l is a single, clear “l” sound; the o is a clean, rounded vowel.
If you want to sound a bit more natural in everyday speech, you can soften it slightly: “hah-luh,” especially in fast conversation.
Other common ways to say hello
Depending on the time of day and level of formality, Germans also use:
- Guten Morgen – “Good morning” (morning until around noon)
- Guten Tag – “Good day” (late morning through afternoon; standard formal greeting)
- Guten Abend – “Good evening” (from late afternoon/evening onward)
- Hi – Works in informal contexts, just like in English
- Moin / Moin Moin – Northern Germany (especially Hamburg); used all day, not just in the morning
- Servus – Southern Germany and Austria; can mean both “hello” and “goodbye”
- Grüß Gott – Bavaria and parts of southern Germany; literally “Greet God,” used as a regional hello
In very casual settings among friends, you’ll also hear shortened forms like just Morgen or Tag , and even the minimalist “Na?” (like “Hey, how’s it going?”).
Quick usage guide
- Meeting someone for the first time or in a professional setting : Guten Tag or a clear Hallo.
- Friends, classmates, colleagues you know well : Hallo , Hi , Moin , or Na?.
- Morning-specific : Guten Morgen or simply Morgen.
- Regional flavor : Use Moin in the north, Servus or Grüß Gott in the south if you want to sound local.
If you’re just starting out, mastering Hallo and Guten Tag with the “hah-loh” and “goo-ten tahk” pronunciation will cover most situations comfortably.