
While Austrian is not a language, Austrians speak German, or Austrian German, which has some differences from the German spoken in Germany. For example, while Austrians and Germans both say Guten Morgen in the morning, Austrians use Grüss Gott throughout the day, whereas Germans would say Guten Tag or Guten Abend. With that in mind, you could wish someone a happy Friday in Austrian German by saying frohen Freitag. This phrase is used to celebrate the upcoming weekend and the break from work or school.
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What You'll Learn

Austrian is not a language, it's German or Austrian German
While there is no direct translation of "Happy Friday" in Austrian, this is because Austrian is not a language in itself. The official language of Austria is German, or Austrian German, which is a variety of Standard German with some differences in vocabulary and dialect.
Austrian German, also known as Austrian Standard German (ASG) or Austrian High German, is the standard variety of German written and spoken in Austria and South Tyrol. It is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect and has its roots in the mid-18th century when compulsory schooling was introduced in the multilingual Habsburg Empire. The written standard at the time was Oberdeutsche Schreibsprache (Upper German written language). Austrian German has been officially standardized since the publication of the Österreichisches Wörterbuch ("Austrian Dictionary") in 1951. This dictionary prescribes spelling rules that define the official language, and Austria participated in the international working group that drafted the German spelling reform of 1996.
Austrian German has the highest sociolinguistic prestige locally and is used in the media and other formal situations. In less formal contexts, Austrians may use Bavarian and Alemannic dialects, which are traditionally spoken but rarely written. The Alemannic dialect, or Swiss German, is mainly spoken in Vorarlberg and is challenging for most German speakers to understand.
Austria has a rich linguistic history and was once part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, influencing its official language. While Austrian German is the national official language and lingua franca, there are several minority languages spoken in the country, including Turkish, Croatian, Romanian, Hungarian, and Slovene.
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Austrians have their own phrases and slang
Austrians speak German, or Austrian German, which is German with some differences. The Austrian dialect has its own phrases and slang, varying from region to region, and is spoken with a different spirit to German. Austrians tend to sound more vague and ambiguous, and their German is more ironic, which can sometimes lead to misunderstandings.
Some examples of Austrian German phrases include the greeting 'Grüß Gott', literally meaning 'greet God', and 'Servus' (or 'Servas/Seas'), which is more commonly used by younger Austrians. When greeting someone in the morning, Austrians say 'Guten Morgen', which can be shortened to 'Morgen' and pronounced as 'Moagn'. Ordering a coffee in Vienna? A black coffee is a 'Verlängerter', a small coffee with milk is 'einen kleinen Braunen', and a cappuccino is a 'Melange'. Ordering a beer? 'Eine Halbe Bier' or 'A Hoibe' means 'half a litre of beer', while a small beer is a 'Seidel' or 'Seiterl'. If you're looking to cure a hangover, order a 'Reperaturseidl' (repair beer). Austrians also have their own words for snacks and meals. 'Jause' refers to a light meal and a beer in a 'Gastgarten' (the Austrian version of a German Biergarten), while 'Jausn' means a snack.
Austrian German also has its own slang. 'Krass' can mean 'awesome' or 'awful', while 'ungustiös' means someone is not very nice. 'Schmarren' means junk, and 'Spinnen' is a phrase used to express that you are going crazy.
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Guten Morgen is used before 10 a.m
While there is no language called "Austrian", Austrians speak German, or Austrian German, which is German with some differences. So, to say "Happy Friday" in Austrian German, you would say it as you would in German: "Schönen Freitag".
Now, onto the greetings! "Guten Tag" is a greeting that can be used all day long. "Guten Morgen", on the other hand, is a morning greeting and is typically used before noon. However, there is some variation in the exact time period during which it is used. Some sources state that it is used from midnight until noon, while others specify that it is used from 5 am until noon. One source mentions that it can be used anytime after waking up, even if that is in the afternoon, but this carries a sarcastic tone, similar to saying "good morning" in English after noon.
To be more precise, some sources state that "Guten Morgen" is used before 10 am or 11 am, and then you switch to "Guten Tag". Another source provides a more specific breakdown: "Guten Morgen" is used from 5 am to 10 am, "Guten Tag" from 10 am to 6 pm, and "Guten Abend" from 6 pm to midnight.
In addition to these standard greetings, there are regional variations. In northern Germany, Moin or Moin, Moin is commonly used at all times of the day, while in Bavaria and southern Germany, Grüß Gott is used. In Saxony, Mahlzeit is used as a greeting around noon.
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Grüss Gott translates to greet God
While "Austrian" is not a language, Austrian German is German with a few differences. In Austrian German, Grüß Gott is a common greeting, less often used as a farewell. The phrase is derived from grüß dich Gott, which means 'may God bless you' or 'God bless you'. Grüß Gott is a shortened form of both grüße dich Gott and its plural grüße euch Gott. The verb grüßen in Middle High German meant 'to greet' or 'to bless', so the greeting preserves the original meaning of 'God bless you'.
Grüß Gott is used in everyday life and official communications in Southern Germany and Austria, especially in Bavaria, Franconia, Swabia, Austria, and South Tyrol. It is a polite way of greeting someone in German-speaking regions, showing respect, acknowledging others' presence, or conveying well-wishes. The phrase reflects the cultural and religious history of the region and is often seen as a cultural identifier.
The phrase has sparked some debate in Austria, with Social Democrat politician Kai Jan Krainer rejecting the term in favour of guten Tag, meaning 'good day'. Its usage is therefore declining due to its religious association. In Bavaria, guten Tag is considered prim and distant and sometimes leads to misunderstandings.
In addition to German and Austrian German, there are several other languages spoken in Austria, including Slovenian, Croatian, Hungarian, and English in the big cities.
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Formal version of goodbye is Auf Wiedersehen
While searching for ways to say "Happy Friday" in Austrian, I found that Austrian German is the language spoken in Austria. It is German with a few differences.
Now, onto goodbyes! "Auf Wiedersehen" is the formal version of saying goodbye in Austrian German. It is a classic, formal goodbye that literally translates to "until we see each other again". It is quite versatile and can be used in various situations, including with strangers or people you may never meet again. However, it is important to note that there are other ways to say goodbye in Austrian German, depending on the context and formality of the situation.
For example, Tschüss is a common way to say "bye" and can be used in both formal and informal settings, although it is more commonly used informally. Mach's gut, which means "take care", is another informal and playful expression often used among friends or with children. Ciao, borrowed from Italian, is also commonly used as a farewell in Austrian German.
If you are certain that you will meet the person the following day, Gute Nacht is a warm and polite way to say goodbye before someone goes to bed or when parting ways late in the evening. Bis zum nächsten Mal is used when you are unsure of the exact timing of the next meeting but hope it will be soon. Wir sehen uns dann is another way to say "see you then", indicating a meeting later in the day.
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Frequently asked questions
Austrian German is a variation of German with some fundamental differences. While there is no direct translation for "Happy Friday", you can say "Schönen Freitag" which translates to "Have a nice Friday".
When someone says "Happy Friday" to you, it is usually a friendly greeting to celebrate the upcoming weekend. You can respond by reciprocating the wish or talking about your weekend plans. For example, you can say, "I am happy I get to rest after Friday", or "I have waited long enough for Friday. This week should just wrap itself up already".
Austrians have their own German phrases and slang. Here are some examples:
- Guten Morgen — Good morning (before 10 a.m.)
- Grüss Gott — Greet God (used throughout the day)
- Hallo, Servus or Grüss dich — Hello (informal)
- Auf Wiedersehen or Auf Wiederschauen — Goodbye (formal)
- Tschüss and Pfiat di — Goodbye (informal, among friends and family)
- Ein Ort zum Ausrasten — A place to relax (be careful, in German, this translates to "getting mad")
Austrian German can be more ironic, which sometimes leads to misunderstandings. Austrians and Germans may accuse each other of being inappropriate or lacking a sense of humor.











































