Expressing Love In Austrian: A Guide To Saying "My Love

The Austrian national language is German, but it differs from German as spoken in the Federal Republic of Germany. If you want to express your love in Austrian German, you can say I lieb di (the same as ich liebe dich but in an Austro-Bavarian dialect), I mog di, or I hob di gern. To greet your loved one, you can use Hallo or Guten Tag in a formal setting. To make a good impression on the older generation, you can try the Catholic-inspired Grüß Gott, which means God's greeting.

How to say 'I love you' in Austrian German

The Austrian national language is German, but Austrian German differs from German in ways that can make it hard to understand for German speakers. When saying "I love you" in Austrian German, you can use one of the following expressions:

• "Ich liebe dich"
• "I lieb di" (Austro-Bavarian dialect)
• "I mog di"
• "I hob di gern"
• "Ich hab dich lieb" (a less deep version of "I love you" that can also mean "I like you very much")

If you want to greet someone in Austrian German, you can use "Grüß Gott" with the older generation. A charming "Servus" (or "Servas/Seas") works better with younger Austrians. When you're hiking or outside the city, you can say "Griaß di" (or "Griaß enk/Griaß eich" in the plural).

How to say 'I love you' in the Austro-Bavarian dialect

Bavarian is a Germanic dialect spoken by several hundred thousand people in the state of Bavaria in southern Germany, as well as in Austria and South Tyrol in Italy.

If you're looking to express your love to someone from this region, you can say "I liab di", pronounced "ee-lee-ab dee".

• "I gib di fei nimma her" ("I will never let you go")
• "Bei dir hob I Schmetterlinge im Bauch" ("I get butterflies when I'm with you")
• "I mog di narrisch gern" ("I am crazy about you")

Bavarians also use animal names as terms of endearment, similar to 'honey', 'babe', or 'sweetheart' in English. For example, a guy might call his girlfriend "Mausi", which means 'mouse'.

If you want to express that you like someone, you can say "I mog di", pronounced "ee-moe-g dee". To express that you miss someone, you can use the German phrase "Ich vermisse dich", which is widely understood and used among German speakers.

How to say 'hello' in Austrian slang

Austrian German has a lot of unique phrases and slang, and the way the language is used differs fundamentally from the German spoken in Germany. The Austrian vernacular, or "Mundart", varies from region to region, with many words exclusive to spoken Austrian, and therefore no set way to spell them.

If you're looking to greet someone in Austrian slang, you could say "Servus", which comes from the Latin for "slave", or "your servant". Another informal greeting is "Griaß di", which translates to "hello" or "hello there". The plural form of this is "Griaß enk/Griaß eich", and it's often used by hikers greeting each other on trails. "Grüß Gott", which translates to "greet God", is also used, and is more common than the German "Guten Tag" and "Guten Abend". Before 10 am, Austrians will often say "Guten Morgen", which can be shortened to "Morgen", or the more slang "Moagn".

Other useful slang phrases include "Na", which can be used to ask how someone is or how something went. However, be careful not to confuse it with the more sarcastic "Na und", meaning "so what?", or "Na geh", meaning "really?!" "Krass" is another versatile word, which can be used whenever you have an extreme emotional reaction to something. If you love it, it's "krass", if you hate it, it's "krass".

If you're looking to fit in with the locals, it's worth noting that Austrians tend to sound more vague and ambiguous than Germans, and Austrian German is more ironic, so be aware of potential misunderstandings!

How to say 'goodbye' in Austrian

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

There are several ways to say goodbye in Austrian German, depending on the context and formality of the situation. The formal version of goodbye is 'Auf Wiedersehen' or 'Auf Wiederschauen'. When leaving a store or cashier's counter, it is customary to say some form of goodbye, and Austrians might say 'Tschüss, baba' in this situation. While 'Tschüss' is used in both Germany and Austria, the addition of 'baba' is unique to Austria. 'Tschüss' can also be combined with other words, such as 'Pfiati' or 'Ciao'. 'Machs gut' is another informal way to say goodbye, meaning 'take care'.

Among friends and family, it is common to use 'Tschüss' and 'Pfiat di'. 'Servus' is another informal way to say goodbye, which translates to 'your servant' in Latin. This greeting was commonly used a few hundred years ago but has now evolved into an informal way to say hello and goodbye in Austrian German.

In addition to these phrases, there are also other ways to express goodbyes in Austrian German. For example, 'Grüß Gott', which translates to 'greet God', is a more traditional and formal greeting but can also be used to say goodbye.

How to say 'cheers' in Austrian

The Austrian equivalent of "cheers" is \"prost", which rhymes with "toast" in British English. When saying "prost", it is important to look each person in the eye and clink glasses with them individually.

Instead of "prost", you can also say \"zum wohl", particularly when drinking wine. This phrase means "to your health". Other ways to say "cheers" in Austrian German are:

• "Auf uns" or "auf dich" — "to us" or "to you"
• "Hoch die Gläser" — "raise your glasses"
• "Auf uns wohl und niemand Übel" — "wish us well and nobody disease"

It is considered bad form to start drinking before saying "prost" and clinking glasses with everyone.

Frequently asked questions