Greetings In Austria: How Do Austrians Say Hello?

Austria is known for its stunning Alpine ski resorts, delicious desserts, and unique language variations. While German is the official language, Austrians have their own phrases and slang, including different ways of saying hello. Learning the local language is a great way to sound like a native and make Austrians happy, as they appreciate it when foreigners make an effort to understand their language.

Austrians use different greetings to Germans

In Austria, the traditional greeting "Grüß Gott" has experienced a renaissance, with 64% of respondents in a survey saying they use it regularly. Austrians also use "Grüß Sie", "Hallo", "Servus", or "Hi", with 74% of respondents in the survey saying they use "Hallo" as their primary greeting. "Servus" can also be used as an informal way to say goodbye. In a formal context, "Auf Wiederschauen" is used, which is the same as in Germany but with an Austrian touch.

In the morning, Austrians use "Guten Morgen" just like in Germany, but this is less common throughout the day, when Austrians prefer "Grüss Gott". The German "Guten Tag" and "Guten Abend" are not often used in Austria. In an informal context, Austrians also use "Hallo", "Servus", or "Grüss dich".

Austrians also have unique expressions that differ from German. For example, "ausrasten" means to relax or recharge in Austrian, but in German, it means "getting mad".

Austrians say Servus to friends

Austrians have their own German phrases and slang for various situations, including greetings. While you can get by in Austria with basic German words, Austrians appreciate it when foreigners make an effort to understand the local language.

One way to greet friends in Austria is to say "Servus". This is a colloquial way of greeting people you know well, especially friends. The word comes from the Latin "servus", meaning "slave" or "servant". When someone greets you with "Servus", it roughly translates to "I'm your servant" or "At your service!". It can be used to say both hello and goodbye, and is similar to the Italian "Ciao".

"Servus" is also one of the few historical words that is still widely used by teenagers today. It is a very common greeting in the south-east of Germany and Austria, and is more informal than "Hallo" or "Morgen". It is also used by retail workers greeting customers, and insurance reps making doorstep visits.

Other ways to say "hello" in Austria include "Grüß Sie", "Hallo", "Grüss Gott", "Guten Morgen", "Guten Abend", and "Hi", for younger people.

Grüß Gott is a religious greeting

The phrase "Grüß Gott" is a common greeting in Austria and Southern Germany, and its use has recently experienced a renaissance. The phrase is a shortened form of the expressions "(es) grüße dich Gott" and "(es) grüße euch Gott", which mean "may God greet you". In Middle High German, the verb "grüßen" ("grüezen") means "to greet" and "to bless", so the greeting preserves the original meaning of "God bless you". However, even speakers in Southern Germany and Austria are rarely aware of this and think it means "may God greet you". The phrase is used in everyday life and is also common in official communications.

While the greeting is standard in Southern Germany and Austria, it is sometimes misunderstood by speakers from other regions to mean "greet God", and it may receive a sarcastic response from Northern Germans, who are mainly Protestant. The phrase is also considered too formal to be used with friends. Some people associate the phrase with religion and feel uncomfortable using it, but others view it as just a common greeting.

In addition to Austria and Southern Germany, the phrase "Grüß Gott" has variants in other languages. In Croatian, there is an informal greeting, "Bog!" ("God"!), which is probably a shortened form of "Bog daj" (" [let] God give"). In Croatian and Bulgarian, there is a more formal parting greeting, "Zbogom" or "Сбогом!" (" [idi] s Bogom", " [go] with God"). In Slovakia, "Zdar Boh!" is the traditional greeting of miners and is also seen on many mine entrances, monuments, or logos. In Romania, the greeting "Doamne ajută" ("God helps" or "God bless") is often used, and the traditional salute "Noroc bun!" ("Glück auf!" in German) is posted on Romanian mine entrances. In Arabic, "Hayyak Allah" ("May God greet you") is a common greeting.

While the greeting "Grüß Gott" has religious roots, it is important to note that it is now primarily used as a standard greeting in Austria and Southern Germany, and its religious connotations are often not considered by speakers.

Austrians kiss ladies' hands

Greeting customs in Austria vary by region, generation, social class, and individual style. In Vienna, for example, the way people greet each other is influenced by the city's long, rich, and unique heritage as the capital of a multinational empire.

In Austria, it is customary for Austrians to shake hands when greeting or leaving acquaintances. A woman offers her hand first to a man, and the older person to the younger. Handshakes are firm with direct eye contact. It is considered rude to keep your hand in your pocket while being introduced or talking to someone. Close friends (women with women and women with men, but not men with men) may also greet each other with kisses on both cheeks—right, then left.

In certain circles, European men may still kiss a woman's hand (or the air above her hand). He may also simply bow his head, gently raise her hand, and say, "Kuess die Hand" (meaning "kiss your hand"). However, this tradition is no longer commonplace.

The most common greetings used by modern Austrians are "Hallo" or "Servus/Servas". According to a survey by the Spectra Institute, 74% of respondents use "Hallo" as their primary greeting, likely because it is the most neutral form. The traditional greeting "Grüß Gott" has also experienced a resurgence, with 64% of respondents saying they use it regularly.

Hallo is the most common greeting

While "Hallo" is the most prevalent greeting, Austrians have a variety of other ways to say hello. Friends often greet each other with "Grüß Sie", "Servus", or simply "Hi". "Servus", derived from the Latin "servus" meaning "slave" or "servant", is commonly used as a colloquial greeting among friends and those one knows well. It is also popular among teenagers and can be used to say both hello and goodbye, much like "Ciao" in Italian. Although it is quite formal, it is rarely heard outside of metropolitan areas.

When interacting with Austrians, it is worth noting that they share a language with Germany, but there are significant differences in how it is used. Thus, while a basic understanding of German can suffice when visiting Austria, learning some Austrian phrases and slang will make a positive impression on the locals. Greeting someone with "Servus", for example, can make one sound like a local, even if their German language skills are lacking.

In addition to the phrases mentioned earlier, Austrians may greet people with "Guten Morgen" or "Guten Abend", particularly in the morning. However, these greetings should not be used after midday. "Morgen", the short form of "Guten Morgen", is often used in a cheerful manner when encountering others during a morning walk or in the workplace. It is worth noting that while "Guten Morgen" and "Guten Abend" are understandable to Austrians, they may respond with other greetings like "Servus" or "Grüss Gott".

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