Greetings & Goodbyes (Leaving Cert German): Revision Notes
Greetings & Goodbyes
Understanding German greeting culture
When meeting people in Germany, there are important cultural customs to remember. Germans typically shake hands when they meet, regardless of whether it's a formal or informal setting. This physical greeting shows respect and politeness.
The handshake is a fundamental part of German greeting culture. It's expected in both business and social settings, and omitting it can be seen as impolite or dismissive.
For addressing people formally, you'll use Herr (Mr) and Frau (Mrs/Ms). It's worth noting that Fräulein (Miss) is no longer commonly used in modern German, as it can sound patronising. Stick to Frau for all adult women, whether married or unmarried.
Never use Fräulein in modern German - it's considered outdated and potentially offensive. Always use Frau for adult women regardless of their marital status.
Essential greetings and basic responses
| German | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Guten Tag | Hello/Good day | goo-ten tahk |
| Hallo | Hi | hah-loh |
| Ja | Yes | yah |
| Nein | No | nyn |
| Ok! | OK! | oh-kay |
| Bitte | Please/You're welcome | bit-eh |
| Danke schön | Thanks (very much) | dahn-keh shurn |
Practical Usage Examples:
- Guten Tag, Herr Schmidt! (Good day, Mr Schmidt!)
- Hallo Maria, wie geht's? (Hi Maria, how are you?)
- Danke schön für Ihre Hilfe. (Thank you very much for your help.)
Farewells and future meetings
| German | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Auf Wiedersehen | Goodbye (formal) | owf vee-der-zayn |
| Tschüss | Bye (informal) | tshuus |
| Bis später | See you later | bis shpay-ter |
| Bis morgen | See you tomorrow | bis mor-gen |
Common Farewell Combinations:
- Auf Wiedersehen, bis morgen! (Goodbye, see you tomorrow!)
- Tschüss, Maria! (Bye, Maria!)
- Bis später, Herr Weber. (See you later, Mr Weber.)
Time-specific greetings
Different times of day require specific greetings in German:
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Guten Morgen | Good morning | gooh-ten mor-gen |
| Guten Abend | Good evening | gooh-ten ah-bent |
| Gute Nacht | Good night | gooh-teh nakht |
Gute Nacht is typically only used when someone is going to bed or leaving for the night, not as a general evening greeting.
Time-Specific Greeting Examples:
- Guten Morgen, wie haben Sie geschlafen? (Good morning, how did you sleep?)
- Guten Abend, schön Sie zu sehen. (Good evening, nice to see you.)
Polite conversation starters
| German | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Wie geht es Ihnen? | How are you? (formal) | vee gayt es ee-nen |
| Danke, gut | Fine, thanks | dahn-keh goot |
| Und Ihnen? | And you? (formal) | oont ee-nen |
| Entschuldigung! | Excuse me!/Sorry! | ent-shool-di-goong |
| Wie, bitte? | Pardon? | vee bit-eh |
Polite Conversation Starters:
- Wie geht es Ihnen heute? (How are you today?)
- Entschuldigung, sprechen Sie Englisch? (Excuse me, do you speak English?)
Language difficulties
When you're struggling with German, these phrases are essential lifesavers:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich spreche kein Deutsch | I don't speak German |
| Sprechen Sie Englisch? | Do you speak English? |
Real-World Dialogue Example:
Tourist: Entschuldigung, wie komme ich zum Bahnhof? (Excuse me, how do I get to the train station?)
Local: Das ist sehr weit von hier. (That's very far from here.)
Tourist: Ich spreche kein Deutsch. Sprechen Sie Englisch? (I don't speak German. Do you speak English?)
Local: Ja, ein bisschen. The train station is two kilometres that way. (Yes, a little bit. The train station is two kilometres that way.)
Tourist: Danke schön! (Thank you very much!)
Making simple requests
Germans appreciate directness and politeness. You don't need complicated phrases to get what you need. Often, simply naming what you want and adding bitte will work perfectly:
Simple Request Examples:
- Ein Kaffee, bitte. (A coffee, please.)
- Die Rechnung, bitte. (The bill, please.)
- Zwei Tickets, bitte. (Two tickets, please.)
Common mistakes & tips
Mistake 1: Using "Fräulein" for young women
Correction: Always use "Frau" for adult women, regardless of age or marital status.
Mistake 2: Forgetting to shake hands
Tip: Always extend your hand for a handshake when meeting someone new in Germany.
Mistake 3: Using informal greetings in formal situations
Tip: When in doubt, use "Guten Tag" and "Auf Wiedersehen" rather than "Hallo" and "Tschüss".
Pronunciation tip: The "ch" sound in "Ich" is soft, like clearing your throat gently, not a hard "k" sound.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Germans typically shake hands when meeting - this shows respect and politeness
- Use Herr and Frau for formal address; Fräulein is outdated
- Guten Tag and Auf Wiedersehen are safe, polite options for any situation
- Adding bitte to simple requests makes them polite and effective
- When struggling with German, asking Sprechen Sie Englisch? can be a lifesaver