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How to Say ‘Helau! (carnival greeting)’ in German

Helau!

heh-LOW

[heh-LOW]

🇩🇪 In Germany: Helau! is the carnival cry in Mainz, Düsseldorf and many other places, but in Cologne it's Alaaf!. Shouting the wrong one in Cologne or Düsseldorf will get you teased, since the two cities are friendly rivals.

Phrase Breakdown

Helau

[heh-LOW]

Helau! (carnival cheer)

Traditional carnival greeting and cheer, used e.g. in Düsseldorf and Mainz.

Example

Alle rufen laut: Helau!

Everyone shouts loudly: Helau!

Guides for German learners

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