From Moin Moin to Guten Tag:Morning Greetings in German-Speaking Countries

Morning greetings are a great way to start communication early in the day. They are suitable for various occasions – you can use them at the beginning of your work shift to greet colleagues or to interact with strangers while standing in line for morning coffee. Learning to say good morning in German is essential, whether planning a trip to the country or simply wanting to expand your general knowledge. In this article, we’ll discuss the most typical expressions and slang phrases for various circumstances.

Common German Morning Greetings

How do you say good morning in German? The answer depends on various factors, including settings, the person you greet, and much more. It is vital to choose morning phrases according to all these factors. Therefore, we’ve compiled a list of expressions for different circumstances.

Formal Phrases for Saying Good Morning in German

German people are known for their punctuality, orderliness, and taciturnity. However, they are also famous for always being polite. That is why their language contains numerous formal greetings. Take a look at the most common polite and formal good morning German expressions.

• Guten Morgen – [ˈɡuːtən ˈmɔrɡn̩] – Good morning.

This greeting is the standard and most common formal way to say “Good Morning” in German. It is suitable for use in professional and polite settings. For example:

Guten Morgen, Frau Schneider. Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen? (Good morning, Mrs. Schneider. How can I assist you?)

Guten Morgen, meine Damen und Herren. Willkommen zur Konferenz. (Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the conference.)

Guten Morgen, Chef. Haben Sie einen Moment Zeit? (Good morning, boss. Do you have a moment?)

• Einen schönen guten Morgen – [ˈaɪ̯nən ˈʃøːnən ˈɡuːtən ˈmɔrɡn̩] – Wishing you a beautiful good morning.

This phrase adds an extra touch of politeness and warmth to your greeting. It’s a formal way to wish someone a pleasant morning. For example:

Einen schönen guten Morgen, meine Damen und Herren. (Have a wonderful morning, ladies and gentlemen.)

Einen wunderschönen guten Morgen, lieber Gast! (Have a wonderful morning, dear guest.)

Einen schönen guten Morgen, Frau Müller. Wie war Ihre Anreise? (Have a wonderful morning, Mrs. Müller. How was your journey?)

• Ich hoffe, Sie haben gut geschlafen – [ˈɪç ˈhɔfə | ˈziː ˈhaːbn̩ ˈɡuːt ɡəˈʃlaːfn̩] – I hope you slept well.

This is a polite and considerate way to greet someone in the morning while expressing concern for their well-being and rest. For example:

Guten Morgen, Herr Schmidt. Ich hoffe, Sie haben gut geschlafen. (Good morning, Mr. Schmidt. I hope you slept well.)

Einen schönen guten Morgen, meine Liebe. Ich hoffe, du hast gut geschlafen. (Have a wonderful morning, my dear. I hope you slept well.)

Guten Morgen, Professor Müller. Ich hoffe, Sie haben sich ausgeschlafen. (Good morning, Professor Müller. I hope you have had a restful night’s sleep.)

• Schönen guten Morgen wünsche ich Ihnen – [ˈʃøːnən ˈɡuːtən ˈmɔrɡn̩ ˈvʏnʃə ˈɪç ˈiːnən] – I wish you a beautiful morning.

This formal phrase emphasizes your good wishes for the recipient’s morning. For example:

Schönen guten Morgen wünsche ich Ihnen, meine Damen und Herren. (I wish you a wonderful morning, ladies and gentlemen.)

Schönen guten Morgen wünsche ich Ihnen, liebe Gäste. (I wish you a wonderful morning, dear guests.)

Schönen guten Morgen wünsche ich Ihnen, lieber Kollege. (I wish you a wonderful morning, dear colleague.)

How to Say Good Morning in German: Casual Greetings

Now that you know so many formal good morning phrases, it is time to learn some casual equivalents to them. They will be great for interactions with friends, peers, or family members. The most common examples of informal morning greetings are provided below.

• Moin Moin – [ˈmuɪn ˈmuɪn] – Good morning.

This is an informal and friendly way to greet someone in the morning, prevalent in Northern Germany. It’s relaxed and laid-back, suitable for interactions with friends and peers. For example:

Moin Moin! Bist du heute früh aufgestanden? (Morning! Did you get up early today?)

Moin Moin! Was gibt’s Neues? (Morning! What’s new?)

Moin Moin aus Hamburg! (Good morning from Hamburg!)

• Hallo – [ˈhaloː] – Hello.

This expression is a versatile informal greeting used among friends and in casual settings, including in the morning. For example:

Hallo! Schon wach? (Hello! Awake already?)

Guten Morgen, oder soll ich sagen, Hallo? (Good morning, or should I say hello?)

Hallo, Leute! Wie geht’s? (Hello, folks! How’s it going?)

• Na, alles fit? – [ˈna | ˈaləs ˈfɪt] – Well, everything okay?

This informal greeting is friendly and relaxed, often used to inquire about someone’s well-being in the morning. For example:

Na, alles fit? Bereit für den Tag? (Well, everything okay? Ready for the day?)

Guten Morgen! Na, alles fit bei dir? (Good morning! Well, everything okay with you?)

Hi, Paul! Na, alles fit? (Hi, Paul! Well, everything okay?)

• Was geht? – [ˈvas ˈɡeːt] – What’s up?

This slang greeting is very informal and is used to ask someone what’s happening or what’s going on. For example:

Guten Morgen! Was geht heute bei dir? (Good morning! What’s up with you today?)

Was geht, Leute? Noch Pläne für heute? (What’s up, folks? Any plans for today?)

Hi, Max! Was geht? (Hi, Max! What’s up?)

Good Morning in German Slang Greetings

Although many believe that Germany is extremely conservative, it is not quite true. For example, Berlin, the capital of this country, is also considered a capital of techno and a sacred spot for people of different subcultures. Such diversity significantly impacts language usage. Therefore, there are many slang greetings in German that can also be used in the morning.

• Na – [ˈna] – Hey.

It is a simple and informal greeting that’s equivalent to saying “Hey” or “Hi” in English. It’s commonly used among friends. For example:

Na, wie war dein Wochenende? (Hey, how was your weekend?)

Na, alles klar bei dir? (Hey, everything okay with you?)

Na, was geht heute Abend? (Hey, what’s happening tonight?)

• Alles klar? – [ˈaləs ˈklaːɐ̯] – Everything okay?

This informal greeting is a way to check in with someone and see if everything is fine. It’s like asking, “How are you doing?” For example:

Alles klar? Wie war dein Tag? (Everything okay? How was your day?)

Hey, alles klar bei dir? (Hey, everything okay with you?)

Alles klar, Jungs? Bereit für das Fußballspiel? (Everything okay, guys? Ready for the soccer game?)

• Wie läuft’s? – [ˈviː läuft's] – How’s it going?

This slang greeting is used to ask someone how things are going in a casual and informal manner. For example:

Hey, wie läuft’s im neuen Job? (Hey, how’s it going in your new job?)

Wie läuft’s heute bei dir? (How’s it going for you today?)

Wie läuft’s, Mädels? Noch Lust auf einen Kaffee? (How’s it going, girls? Still up for a coffee?)

• Servus – [ˈzɛrvʊs] – Hello.

This is an informal and friendly greeting used in Bavaria, Austria, and other parts of Southern Germany. It’s versatile and can be used in various contexts. For example:

Servus! Was machst du heute? (Hello! What are you doing today?)

Servus, Leute! Lust auf ein Bier? (Hello, folks! Up for a beer?)

Servus, Freunde! Wie geht’s euch? (Hello, friends! How are you doing?)

• Tach – [tach] – Hi or hello.

In some regions, particularly in Rhine-Westphalia, this phrase is used as a quick and informal greeting during the day. For example:

Tach! Alles klar? (Hi! Everything okay?)

Tach, was geht heute? (Hi, what’s happening today?)

Tach, Jungs! Lust auf ‘ne Runde Fußball? (Hi, guys! Up for a round of soccer?)

• Jo – [ˈjoː] – Hey.

In Austrian slang, “Jo” can be used as a casual way to get someone’s attention informally. Also, it is a good and casual way to greet someone. For example:

Jo, kommst du später vorbei? (Hey, are you coming by later?)

Jo, Jungs, was ist der Plan für heute? (Hey, guys, what’s the plan for today?)

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Morning Greetings Variations in Different German-Speaking Countries

Another fun fact about Germany is that it’s not the only country that speaks German. There are many other regions where this language is widely spoken. As a result, there are numerous variations of the same greetings. For example, a simple German word for good morning can be entirely different in Austria and Switzerland. Let’s take a look at some common examples.

• Austria – Grüß Gott [ɡʁyːs ˈɡɔt] – God greet you. 

In Austria, you can use “Guten Morgen” like in Germany. However, this phrase is also common and reflects the strong influence of Catholicism in the country. It’s used in both formal and informal situations.

• Switzerland – Grüezi [ˈɡryətsi] – Hello. 

This expression is a Swiss-German variation of “Hello” and is often used informally in the morning.

• Alsace, France – Guata Morgä [ˈgʊata: ˈmɔɐ̯gɛ] – Good Morning. 

In Alsace, which has a German-speaking community, you may hear “Guten Morgen” as well as the Alsatian variation “Guata Morge.”

Bonus! German Greetings for Different Parts of the Day

Congratulations! Now you know enough expressions to greet someone in the morning in German. Some of them can be used throughout the day, and others cannot. Therefore, to consolidate your knowledge and expand your vocabulary even more, take a look at these common phrases and greetings to use during the day.

• Guten Tag – [ˈɡuːtən ˈtaːk] – Good afternoon.

Guten Tag, Herr Müller. Wie kann ich Ihnen behilflich sein? (Good afternoon, Mr. Müller. How may I assist you?)

Guten Tag, Anna! Lust auf einen Kaffee am Nachmittag? (Good afternoon, Anna! Up for a coffee in the afternoon?)

Guten Tag, Leute! Was machen wir heute Nachmittag? (Good afternoon, folks! What are we doing this afternoon?)

• Guten Abend – [ˈɡuːtən ˈaːbn̩t] – Good evening.

Guten Abend, meine Damen und Herren. Willkommen zur Gala. (Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the gala.)

Guten Abend, Lisa! Wie war dein Tag? (Good evening, Lisa! How was your day?)

Guten Abend, Freunde! Lust auf einen Filmabend? (Good evening, friends! Up for a movie night?)

• Gute Nacht – [ˈɡuːtə ˈnaxt] – Good night.

Gute Nacht, Frau Schneider. Schlafen Sie gut. (Good night, Mrs. Schneider. Sleep well.)

Gute Nacht, mein Schatz. Träum süß! (Good night, my love. Sweet dreams!)

Gute Nacht, Jungs! Bis morgen früh! (Good night, guys! See you tomorrow morning!)

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Conclusion

To sum up, we can say that learning how to say morning in German is a tricky but important task. Only a few simple phrases can lead to new acquaintances, meeting new friends, or just engaging in interesting discussions. We hope that with today’s article, you’ve learned enough morning greetings. And we will see you in the next one!