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There are many ways to say 'hello' in Austrian, depending on the context and the age of the person you are greeting. The formal greeting is 'Guten Tag' or 'Grüß Gott' (literally 'Greet God'), but 'Grüß Sie' or 'Hallo' are also acceptable. Friends greet each other by saying 'Grüß Sie', 'Hallo', 'Servus' or 'Hi', and younger people may simply say 'Hi'. When greeting someone in passing on the street, 'Grüß Gott' is an informal and polite way of acknowledging someone.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Formal greeting | Guten Tag, Grüß Gott |
| Informal greeting | Grüß Sie, Hallo, Servus, Hi |
| Greeting for younger people | Hi |
| Greeting for hiking or outside the city | Griaß di, Griaß enk, Griaß eich |
What You'll Learn
Grüß Gott is a formal greeting, literally translating to 'Greet God'
Grüß Gott is a formal greeting in Austrian, literally translating to 'Greet God' or 'God's greeting'. It is a Catholic-inspired greeting, and is considered more polite than the more common 'Guten Tag' or 'Hallo'. It is used as an informal way of acknowledging someone, and is often accompanied by a handshake.
Grüß Gott is a good greeting to use with the older generation, and is considered to make a good impression. It is also a good choice when hiking or outside the city, where Griaß di (or Griaß enk/Griaß eich in the plural) is also used.
Among friends and family, people may use more casual greetings such as 'Hallo' or 'Servus' (Hi). 'Servus' is also a charming greeting to use with younger Austrians.
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Grüß Sie is a formal greeting used when greeting friends
Other formal greetings in Austrian German include Guten Tag, Guten Morgen, Guten Abend and Grüß Gott. Grüß Gott is a Catholic-inspired greeting which literally translates as 'Greet God' or 'God bless you'. It is considered informal and polite, and is best used when greeting older people.
Among friends and family, casual greetings such as Hallo, Servus, Servas, Seas and Griaß di are also used. When greeting younger Austrians, Servus, Hi or Hey are good options. When hiking or outside the city, Griaß di, Griaß enk or Griaß eich (in the plural) are appropriate.
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Hallo is a casual greeting used among friends and family
Hallo is also used as a greeting by younger people, who may also say hi or hey. Older Austrians are more likely to use the formal greeting Guten Tag or Grüß Gott (literally 'God's greeting' or 'God bless you'). This is also used as a polite way of acknowledging someone in passing on the street.
Other casual greetings used among friends and family include Grüß Sie, Servus, and simply Hi.
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Servus is a casual greeting used among friends and family
Other casual greetings used among friends and family in Austria include Grüß Sie, Hallo, and Hi. Hallo is also used as a standard greeting with customers.
More formal greetings in Austria include Guten Tag, Grüß Gott, Guten Morgen, Guten Abend, and Guten Nacht.
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Griaß di is a good choice when hiking or outside the city
There are other greetings that are more formal, such as Guten Tag or Grüß Gott, which literally translates to 'Greet God'. This is a polite way of acknowledging someone. Knowing when to say Grüß Sie or Hallo is also better. Friends greet each other by saying Grüß Sie, Hallo, Servus or simply Hi.
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Frequently asked questions
You can say 'Hallo', 'Guten Tag', 'Grüß Gott' or 'Servus'.
'Grüß Gott' means 'God's greeting'.
Yes, 'Grüß Gott' is a formal greeting. It is also polite and can be used to acknowledge someone.
