Greetings In Austria: How To Ask "How Are You?

While German is widely spoken in Austria, there are some differences between German and Austrian German. In fact, there are huge differences in the way German is spoken in everyday life in Austria compared to Germany. So, if you're planning a trip to Austria, it's worth learning some Austrian German phrases to help you integrate into the local culture and feel like a local. One of the most important phrases to learn is how are you, which in Austrian German is wie geht's (pronounced vee geyhts).

Characteristics	Values
How are you in Austrian?	Wie geht es Ihnen?

Greeting: Hallo

Greeting someone with "Hallo" is a great start to learning how to speak like a local in Austria. While it is a common greeting, there are several other ways to say "hello" in Austrian German, each with its own unique meaning and context.

"Servus" is a popular greeting in Austria, especially among friends and people you know well. It is derived from the Latin word "servus," meaning "slave" or "servant," and conveys the idea of being at someone's service. "Servus" can also be used as a casual way to say goodbye.

"Grüss Gott" is a more traditional and formal greeting, commonly used by religiously inclined or conservative individuals, as well as those in rural areas. It literally means "God's greeting" and is similar to "Pfiat di Gott," which is a blessing.

"Guten Tag" is another formal greeting, primarily used in professional settings by some left-wing Austrians and Germans. It is less commonly heard outside of metropolitan areas, where a more casual tone is often preferred.

"Griaß di" (or "Griaß enk/Griaß eich" in the plural) is a friendly and informal greeting, perfect for when you're hiking or outside the city. It simply means "hello" or "greetings" and can be used at any time of the day.

Additionally, Austrians also use "Guten Morgen" for "good morning" and "Guten Abend" for "good evening." These are Hochdeutsch (High German) phrases and are less frequently used in Austria, where regional dialects are preferred.

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Asking how someone is

When asking how someone is in Austrian German, it is important to note the cultural context. Austrians tend to be more reserved and formal than some other cultures, so it is generally considered polite to use the formal form when addressing someone unless you have been invited to use the informal form. Additionally, Austrians value privacy and personal space, so asking about someone's well-being may be seen as an intrusion unless you have an established relationship.

If someone asks you how you are in Austrian German, it is common to respond with "Danke, gut" ("Thank you, good") or "Mir geht es gut" ("I am good"). If you want to express that you are doing very well, you can say "Sehr gut" ("Very good"). On the other hand, if you are not doing well, you can say "Nicht so gut" ("Not so good").

It is worth noting that German is the official language of Austria, and it is widely spoken throughout the country. However, there are also some regional dialects and variations in pronunciation and vocabulary across different regions of Austria. Therefore, the way you ask "How are you?" may vary slightly depending on the region you are visiting.

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Saying you're fine

German is the official language of Austria, and the phrase for "I'm fine" in German is "Geldstrafe". However, there are a few ways to express this sentiment in a conversation.

If you want to convey that you are doing well, you can say "Sehr gut", which means "very well". This phrase indicates that you are feeling good and things are going positively for you.

Another option is to say "So so", which is a common response when someone asks how you are doing. It indicates that you are doing alright, but not exceptionally well or poorly.

Additionally, you can respond with "Mir geht es gut", which directly translates to "I am fine" and is a standard response when someone inquires about your well-being.

In a more casual context, you could say "Mir geht's gut, danke", which means "I'm good, thanks". This reply is often used when someone asks how you are as a greeting, and it expresses gratitude for their interest.

Lastly, if you want to emphasize that you are feeling fantastic, you can say "Mir geht es ausgezeichnet", which means "I am doing excellently". This phrase conveys that you are in a state of excellent well-being and high spirits.

So, depending on the context and your exact sentiment, you can choose the most appropriate phrase to convey that you are fine in Austrian German.

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Asking what someone's name is

When asking someone what their name is in Austrian German, it's important to consider the level of formality of the situation. German speakers tend to be more formal than English speakers, so it's better to err on the side of being too formal than too familiar.

If you're meeting someone for the first time or addressing someone in a professional context, use the formal pronoun "Sie" (you) and ask:

> Wie ist Ihr Name? (What is your name?)

The response to this question will usually be the person's last name, not their first name. For example:

> Mein Name ist Braun. (My name is Braun.)

If you're talking to friends, family, or people of the same age group in an informal setting, you can use the familiar pronoun "du" (you) and ask:

> Wie ist dein Name? (What is your name?)

The response in this case might be the person's first name:

> Ich heiße Paul. (My name is Paul.)

Some other ways to ask "What's your name?" in Austrian German include:

Wie heißt du? (Hey, what's your name?)
Wie heißen Sie? (What's your name? - formal)

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Saying your name

If you're looking to introduce yourself in Austrian German, here are some essential phrases and tips to help you out:

Basic Phrases for Introducing Yourself

"Ich heiße..." (I am called...)
"Mein Name ist..." (My name is...)
"Ich bin..." (I am...)

Asking Others Their Name

When asking someone else their name, it's important to consider the formality of the situation. If you're in a business setting or speaking to someone you don't know well, it's best to use the formal "Sie" (formal "you") and its matching possessive adjectives, "Ihr" (masculine or neuter) and "Ihre" (feminine or plural). In informal situations, you can use "du" (informal "you" singular) or "ihr" (informal "you" plural).

"Wie heißen Sie?" (What is your name?) [formal]
"Wie heißt du?" (What is your name?) [informal]
"Wie ist Ihr Name?" (What is your name?) [formal]
"Wie ist dein Name?" (What is your name?) [informal]

Expressing Name Preferences

You may want to let others know about your name preferences, especially if you have a preferred name or nickname. Here are some phrases to help you with that:

"Sie können mich [Name] nennen." (You can call me [Name].)
"Ich werde lieber ... genannt." (I prefer to be called...)
"Du kannst mich [Name] nennen." (You can call me [Name].)
"Meine Freunde nennen mich..." (My friends call me...)

Spelling and Pronouncing Names

Understanding how to pronounce and spell names is crucial in introductions. Here are some formal and informal phrases to help with that:

"Würden Sie mir bitte noch einmal Ihren Namen sagen?" (Would you say your name for me again, please?) [formal]
"Würdest du mir bitte noch einmal deinen Namen sagen?" (Would you say your name for me again, please?) [informal]
"Könnten Sie bitte Ihren Namen für mich buchstabieren?" (Could you spell your name for me, please?) [formal]
"Wie buchstabiert man deinen Namen?" (How do you spell your name?) [informal]
"Können Sie bitte Ihren Namen aufschreiben?" (Could you write your name [for me], please?)
"Kannst du deinen Namen schreiben?" (Can you write your name?) [informal]
"Wie sprechen Sie Ihren Namen aus?" (How do you pronounce your name?) [formal]
"Wie sprichst du deinen Namen aus?" (How do you pronounce your name?) [informal]
"So schreibe ich meinen Namen." (This is how I write/spell my name.)
"Ich spreche meinen Namen so aus..." (I pronounce my name like this...)

Common Austrian Names

If you're curious about common Austrian names, here are some examples of popular Austrian boy and girl names:

Austrian Boy Names: