How to Use Basic Greetings

Learn how to use basic greetings

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Vocabulary

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Lesson Transcript

Welcome to Can Do German by GermanPod101.com.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use basic greetings in German.

For example, "Good day." is

Guten Tag.

Finja Fischer is the Ahrens family's German teacher.

Her schedule for the day is:

Aylin Ahrens at 9:00 a.m.

Anouk Ahrens at 12:00 p.m.

Aron Ahrens at 6:00 p.m.

Before you listen to the greeting exchange between the three pairs, let's preview some of its key components.

Guten Morgen.

"Good morning"

Guten Morgen.

Guten Tag.

"Good day."

Guten Tag.

Guten Abend.

"Good evening"

Guten Abend.

Listen to their conversations, and pay attention to the time of day.

Finja Fischer has a morning class with Aylin Ahrens at 9 a.m.

Guten Morgen, Frau Fischer.

Guten Morgen, Frau Ahrens.

Later, Finja Fischer has an afternoon class with Anouk Ahrens at 12 p.m.

Guten Tag.

At the end of the day, Finja Fischer has an evening class with Aron Ahrens at 6 p.m.

Guten Abend.

Guten Abend, Aron.

Once more with the English translation.

Guten Morgen, Frau Fischer.

"Good morning, Ms. Fischer."

Guten Morgen, Frau Ahrens.

"Good morning, Ms. Ahrens."

Guten Tag.

"Good day."

Guten Tag.

"Good day."

Guten Abend.

"Good evening."

Guten Abend, Aron.

"Good evening, Aron."

Let’s break down each of these expressions.

In the first conversation, do you remember how Aylin says,

"Good morning, Ms. Fischer."

Guten Morgen, Frau Fischer.

Let’s start with Guten Morgen, which translates as "good morning."

Guten Morgen. "Good morning." Guten Morgen.

Note, Guten Morgen, can be used until around noon.

Next is Frau, "Ms," in this context. Frau. Frau. This is an honorific used for women.

Note, the honorific to address a man is Herr, "Mr." Herr. Herr.

Finally, the teacher’s family name, Fischer. Fischer. Fischer.. Fischer.

Together, Frau Fischer. "Ms. Fischer." Frau Fischer.

All together, Guten Morgen, Frau Fischer. "Good morning, Ms. Fischer."

Guten Morgen, Frau Fischer.

When including a person’s name in a greeting, it’s more common to say the person’s name after the greeting.

Note: using a person’s family name in a greeting may come across as more formal.

Do you remember the teacher’s 's response?

"Good morning, Ms. Ahrens."

Guten Morgen, Frau Ahrens.

First is Guten Morgen, "Good morning." Guten Morgen.

Next is Frau, "Ms," in this context. Frau. Frau. This is an honorific used for women.

Finally, Aylin’s family name, Ahrens, pronounced in German. Ahrens. Ahrens.

All together, it’s Guten Morgen, Frau Ahrens. "Good morning, Ms. Ahrens."

Guten Morgen, Frau Ahrens.

Note, this exchange is formal.

In the second conversation, which takes place at noon, do you remember how Anouk says,

"Good day."

Guten Tag, meaning "good day." Guten Tag. Guten Tag.

Note, that Anouk’s greeting is slightly less formal, as she doesn’t say the teacher’s name.

Guten Tag. "good day." Guten Tag.

Note, Guten Tag can be used from around noon until dusk.

The teacher 's response is the same,

Guten Tag.

This can translate as "Hello," or "good day."

Guten Tag is a common way to greet people during the day. You can use it in formal and less formal situations.

In the third conversation, which takes place in the evening at 6pm, do you remember how Aron says,

"Good evening."

Guten Abend.

Guten Abend. "Good evening." Guten Abend.

Guten Abend.

Guten Abend is a common way to greet people during the evening and at night, in both formal and less formal situations.

Do you remember the teacher's response,

"Good evening, Aron."

Guten Abend, Aron.

First is Guten Abend. "Good evening." Guten Abend.

Next is Aron’s name pronounced in German. Aron. Aron. Aron.

Together, it's Guten Abend, Aron. "Good evening, Aron."

Guten Abend, Aron.

Note that the teacher addresses Aron by his first name, as he’s younger. This makes the greeting sound more informal.

The expressions you have learned in this lesson are actually shortened forms of longer expressions.

Guten Morgen is the shortened form of Ich wünsche dir einen guten Morgen. "I wish you a good morning."

Guten Tag is the shortened form of Ich wünsche dir einen guten Tag. "I wish you a good day."

Guten Abend is the shortened form of Ich wünsche dir einen guten Abend. "I wish you a good evening."

These extended forms are simply for your general knowledge.

Let’s look at the greetings once more.

Listen and repeat, or speak along with the native speaker.

Guten Tag.

"Good day."

Guten Tag.

Guten Abend.

"Good evening."

Guten Abend.

Guten Morgen, Frau Fischer.

"Good morning, Ms. Fischer."

Guten Morgen, Frau Fischer.

Hallo!

"Hello!"

Hallo!

Did you notice the last greeting?

Hallo! "Hello!" Hallo! Hallo!

For informal situations, you can just use the greeting, hallo, "hello," at any time of the day.

Hallo is the most common greeting in German. However, it’s only suitable for informal situations, such as when greeting friends or relatives. It translates as "hi" or "hello."

Let's review.

Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then repeat after the native speakers, focusing on pronunciation.

Ready?

Do you remember how to say,

"Good morning."

Guten Morgen.

And how to say,

"Good day."

Guten Tag.

Do you remember how to say,

"Good evening."

Guten Abend.

Do you remember how to address "Ms. Fischer?"

Frau Fischer.

Let's practice.

Imagine you're Aron Ahrens, and you’re attending your morning class.

Respond by saying, "Good morning."

Ready?

Guten Morgen, Aron.

Guten Morgen.

Listen again and repeat.

Guten Morgen.

Let’s try another.

Imagine you're Aylin Ahrens , and you’re attending your afternoon class.

Respond by saying, "Good afternoon, Ms. Fischer."

Ready?

Guten Tag, Frau Ahrens.

Guten Tag, Frau Fischer.

Listen again and repeat.

Guten Tag, Frau Fischer.

Let’s try one more.

Imagine you're Arnold Ahrens , and you meet your neighbor in the evening. Respond by saying, "Good evening."

Ready?

Guten Abend.

Listen again and repeat.

Guten Abend.

This is the end of this lesson.

In this lesson, you learned how to use basic greetings in German. This plays an essential role in the larger skill of using basic greetings.

Remember, these Can Do lessons are about learning practical language skills.

What's next?

Show us what you can do.

When you're ready, take your assessment.

You can take it again and again, so try anytime you like.

Our teachers will assess it, and give you your results.

Keep practicing — and move on to the next lesson.

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