Learn To Ask "How Are You?" In Austrian German

Austrians tend to sound a bit more vague and ambiguous than Germans, who are very direct and straight to the point. Austrian German is also a bit more ironic, which occasionally leads to small misunderstandings. Before 10 a.m., Austrians usually say 'Guten Morgen' ('good morning'), which can be shortened to 'Morgen' and will often be pronounced as 'Moagn'. For the rest of the day, they use 'Grüss Gott', which translates into 'greet God'.

Formal vs. informal expressions

Austrian greetings differ from German greetings in many ways, and there are several ways to say hello and goodbye, each for formal and informal situations.

In German, there are several ways to say 'how are you', depending on the level of formality and the context. The most common way is 'Wie geht's', pronounced 'Vee - gehts' (like a prolonged 'gets'). This is used when talking to people of a similar age group or with whom you have a friendly relationship, like friends, classmates, colleagues, or family.

If you're feeling playful and informal, you can use the phrase 'Wie läuft’s?' (literally, 'How is it running?'). This is a more casual version of the above phrase, where the verb 'gehen' is swapped with 'laufen', which also means 'to run'. An English alternative to this would be 'How's it going?' or 'How you doing?'.

If you don't have much time and know that the other person will go on and on about what happened in their life, you can imply that you don't want a long answer with 'Wie schaut’s aus?'. This German expression literally means 'How is it looking?', and people usually answer it with a simple 'ok' and maybe a quick follow-up.

Germans tend to give a very honest answer when asked 'how are you', so be prepared for a detailed response!

Responses to the question

There are a few ways to say 'how are you' in Austrian German. One way is to say 'Servus' (or 'Servas'/'Seas'), which works well with younger Austrians. If you're hiking or outside the city, 'Griaß di' (or 'Griaß enk'/'Griaß eich' in the plural) is a good choice. You can also say 'Grüß Gott', which translates to 'greet God' and is used throughout the day.

Here's an example sentence: 'Servus, grüß dich, wie geht’s dir?' ('Hey, hello, how are you?').

The origins of the phrase

The Austrian greeting 'Grüss Gott' is used to say 'hello' and is the equivalent of 'good day'. It is derived from the phrase 'grüss dich Gott', which means '(may) God bless (you)'. The phrase is also used in Southern Germany, particularly in Bavaria, Franconia, Swabia, and South Tyrol.

'Grüss Gott' is the most common greeting in Austria and is used in both formal and informal contexts. It is similar in meaning to 'Guten Tag', which is used in other parts of Germany. The phrase is not considered to be a religious greeting, and atheists and members of other religions also use it. However, it is worth noting that Austrian Mormons consider the phrase blasphemous and avoid using it.

The phrase 'Grüss Gott' has a rich history and showcases the unique cultural and linguistic characteristics of Austria. It is an example of how language evolves and adapts to local customs, creating expressions that are specific to a particular region or community.

While 'Grüss Gott' is the most common greeting in Austria, there are also regional variations. For example, in Vienna, 'Guten Tag' is the preferred greeting, and using 'Grüss Gott' may even be seen as a verbal attack by some.

The pronunciation of 'Grüss Gott' can vary across regions. For instance, in some places, grüss dich' may be shortened to 'grüss di', and the variation 'grüss di Gott' may also be heard.

How to ask and answer politely

Austrian greetings differ from German greetings in many ways. There are several ways to say hello in Austrian, and just as many to say goodbye, each for formal and informal situations.

Before 10 am, Austrians say *Guten Morgen*, which is the same as in Germany. This can be shortened to *Morgen* and is often pronounced as *Moagn*. For the rest of the day, Austrians use *Grüss Gott*, which translates as 'greet God'. In an informal context, you can say *Hallo*, *Servus* or *Grüss dich*. The formal version of goodbye is *Auf Wiedersehen* or *Auf Wiederschauen*.

Austrian German is a bit more ironic than German, which occasionally leads to small misunderstandings. Germans sometimes accuse Austrians of being inappropriate, and Austrians criticise their neighbours' lack of humour.

Austrians would say *Ein Ort zum Ausrasten* (a place to relax or recharge), whereas Germans would translate this as 'getting mad'.

How to feel comfortable talking to a native German speaker

If you're feeling nervous about speaking German with a native speaker, there are a few things you can do to feel more comfortable. Firstly, remember that Austrians tend to be a bit more vague and ambiguous than Germans, who are very direct and straight to the point. So, if you're not sure exactly what to say, don't worry too much about it! Austrians are used to a bit of ambiguity, and they also tend to have a good sense of humour, so they're unlikely to be too critical if you make a mistake.

It's also a good idea to learn some basic phrases and greetings. Austrians say Guten Morgen or Morgen before 10am, and Grüss Gott for the rest of the day. Knowing these will help you feel more confident when starting a conversation.

If you're still feeling nervous, try to find a language partner or tutor who can help you practice. Speaking with someone regularly will help you get used to the flow of conversation and build your confidence. Remember to be patient with yourself and enjoy the process of learning!

Frequently asked questions