Purpose

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to greet someone appropriately in German and introduce yourself using basic, correct phrases.

Lesson Explanation

Common German greetings:

Guten Morgen  — Good morning
Guten Tag     — Good day (neutral, works most of the day)
Guten Abend   — Good evening
Hallo         — Hi/Hello (casual, works anytime)

A genuinely important, specific word: Gute Nacht (Good night) is not used as a greeting — like its English and French equivalents, it is only used when someone is going to bed.

To introduce yourself: Ich heiße [name]. (literally “I am called [name]”) or Ich bin [name]. (I am [name]). To ask someone’s name: Wie heißt du? (informal) or Wie heißen Sie? (formal). A polite response: Freut mich (Pleased to meet you, literally “it pleases me”).

Practice Questions