👋

How to Say ‘Hello!’ in German

Grüß Gott!

grooss got

[grooss got]

🇩🇪 In Germany: The standard greeting in Bavaria and Austria, used with strangers, waiters and shopkeepers at any time of day. A northern Hallo or Guten Tag works too, but Grüß Gott fits right in at the Wiesn.

Phrase Breakdown

Grüß

[grooss]

greet / bless

Short form of 'grüßen' (to greet); used in the southern German and Austrian greeting meaning roughly 'God bless you'.

Example

Grüß dich, Thomas!

Hello (greetings to you), Thomas!

Gott

[got]

God

Noun for God; in this southern German greeting it means 'may God greet you', i.e. hello.

Example

Grüß Gott, Frau Huber!

Hello, Mrs. Huber!

Guides for German learners

Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Berlin bureaucracy requires real German. This app got me from zero to handling my Anmeldung appointment in three weeks. My coworkers couldn’t believe it.”

Emma L., 27, UX Researcher

“Relocated to Munich with my family. The everyday scenarios — grocery shopping, doctor visits, school meetings — are exactly what we needed to settle in.”

Marcus J., 40, Engineer

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer