Servus is a common greeting in the Bavarian-dialect zone of Austria and Bavaria. It is used as an informal greeting, to say 'hello' or 'goodbye', and is usually reserved for friends or people you know well. The word originates from the Latin phrase 'servus humillimus domine spectabilis', which means ' [your] most humble servant, [my] noble lord'. However, in modern usage, it has lost its formal and subservient connotations and is now used in a similar vein to the Italian 'ciao' or the English 'at your service'.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Language | German, Bavarian, Slovak, Romanian, Czech, Rusyn, Ukrainian, Slovenian, Croatian, Hungarian, and Polish |
Origin | Latin |
Meaning | Slave or servant |
Use | Greeting or parting |
Use by Region | South Germany, Austria, South Tirol, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Croatia, and Ukraine |
Use by Age Group | Widely used among teenagers |
What You'll Learn
- Servus is a greeting in many parts of Central and Eastern Europe
- The use of servus in German is regional, largely to South Germany, Austria, and South Tirol
- Servus is derived from the Latin word for 'servant' or 'slave'
- Servus is used as an informal greeting in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Austria, Südtirol, Slovenia, Hungary, and Romania
- Servus is used to greet friends or people you know well
Servus is a greeting in many parts of Central and Eastern Europe
Servus, and its various local derivatives, is a salutation used in many parts of Central and Eastern Europe. The word is a greeting or a farewell, similar to the Italian 'ciao' or the Swedish 'tjenare', both of which have similar etymological roots.
The use of 'servus' is largely confined to South Germany, Austria, and South Tirol. In Bavarian German, it is also spelled 'servas'. The greeting is also common in other languages, including Slovak, Romanian, Czech, Rusyn, Ukrainian, Slovenian, Croatian, Hungarian, and Polish.
The word 'servus' comes from the Latin 'servus humillimus, domine spectabilis', meaning ' [your] most humble servant, [my] noble lord'. However, in modern usage, there is no implication of subservience, and it is used informally to mean 'at your service' or simply 'hello'. The greeting is especially popular in Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania (especially in Transylvania), southern Germany (Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Palatinate, and middle and southern Hesse), northern Croatia, eastern Slovenia, and western Ukraine. It is rarely used in the Czech Republic and Poland, where it is considered an archaism.
In German, 'servus' is often shortened to 'seas', and in Hungarian, it is shortened to 'szevasz', 'szeva', 'szia', and 'szió'.
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The use of servus in German is regional, largely to South Germany, Austria, and South Tirol
The use of "servus" as a greeting in German is largely regional to South Germany, Austria, and South Tirol. It is also used in other parts of Europe, including Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. In these regions, it is a common greeting, used interchangeably as "hello" and "goodbye".
The word "servus" is a shortening of the Latin phrase "servus humillimus, domine spectabilis", which means " [your] most humble servant, [my] noble lord". However, despite its formal origins, the modern use of "servus" does not imply any subservience and is instead an informal greeting, similar to the English phrase "at your service".
In German, "servus" is particularly prevalent in Bavaria, where it is used as a friendly, informal greeting between people who know each other well enough to say "du" to each other. Bavarians may also greet strangers or people they are meeting for the first time with "Grüss Gott", a very formal greeting favoured by older, conservative Catholics in the region.
The use of "servus" in German-speaking regions is a remnant of the area's history as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
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Servus is derived from the Latin word for 'servant' or 'slave'
The word "servus" is a salutation used in many parts of Central and Eastern Europe. It is used as a greeting or as a parting word, much like the Italian "Ciao", which also comes from the Latin word for "slave".
"Servus" is used in German, Bavarian, Slovak, Romanian, and Czech. In German, its use is regional, largely in South Germany, Austria, and South Tirol. In Bavarian, it is also spelled "servas". In Romanian, it is used in the former Austrian lands, despite the language barrier.
The word "servus" originates from the Latin word for servant or slave. It is the ellipsis of the Latin expression "servus humillimus, domine spectabilis", meaning " [your] most humble servant, [my] noble lord". Despite its formal origins, the modern use of "servus" does not imply any trace of subservience and is now used as an informal greeting.
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Servus is used as an informal greeting in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Austria, Südtirol, Slovenia, Hungary, and Romania
Servus is a salutation with roots in the Latin word for 'servant' or 'slave'. It is used as a greeting or parting, like the Italian 'ciao', which has a similar origin. The use of 'servus' is largely regional and is mostly used in parts of Central and Eastern Europe that were once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
'Servus' is used as an informal greeting in several regions, including:
- Bavaria, Germany: Bavarians tend to favour 'Servus' over the more standard German greeting of 'Hallo'. It is used between friends or people who are familiar enough to say 'Du' to each other.
- Baden-Württemberg, Germany: 'Servus' is used informally in this southern German state.
- Austria: 'Servus' is very common in Austria and is also used in the former Austrian lands in Romania.
- Südtirol, Italy: The use of 'Servus' in this region is a remnant of its historical association with the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
- Slovenia: 'Servus' is used in Slovenian Styria and may have been more widespread in the past.
- Hungary: In Hungarian, 'Servus' is 'szervusz', and several shortened versions are popular, like 'szevasz', 'szeva', 'szia', and 'szió'.
- Romania: 'Servus' is used in Transylvania, a region that was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, by both Romanians and Hungarians.
The use of 'Servus' is often associated with a friendly and welcoming attitude, and it is an excellent way for visitors to these regions to connect with the local culture and people.
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Servus is used to greet friends or people you know well
Servus is a salutation that is used in many parts of Central and Eastern Europe. It is a word of greeting or parting, like the Italian "ciao". The use of "servus" is largely regional and is used in South Germany, Austria, and South Tyrol. It is also commonly used in Bavaria, where it is appropriate to say to friends or people you know well.
The word originates from the Latin word for servant or slave, "servus". It is the origin of the word "serf" and is an ellipsis of the Latin expression "servus humillimus, domine spectabilis", meaning " [your] most humble servant, [my] noble lord". Despite its formal origins, the modern use of "servus" does not imply any trace of subservience. Instead, it is used as an informal greeting, similar to the English expression "at your service".
In Bavarian, Austrian, and South Tyrol dialects, "servus" is often shortened to "servas". In other languages, such as Hungarian, there are several shortened versions of "servus" that are commonly used, including "szevasz", "szeva", "szia", and "szió".
"Servus" is a versatile greeting that can be used as both a welcoming hello and a friendly goodbye. It is a warm and hospitable way to address friends or familiar acquaintances in Bavaria and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe.
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Frequently asked questions
Servus is used as a greeting in many parts of Central and Eastern Europe, including Germany, Austria, Poland, Croatia, Hungary, and Romania. Its use is roughly coincident with the boundaries of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire.
No, 'Servus' is an informal greeting used between people who know each other well enough to say 'Du' to each other. It is not used in formal settings or with people who should be addressed formally.
'Servus' is a shortening of the Latin phrase "I am your servant" or "at your service". It is similar to the English expression "Your obedient/humble servant".
The spelling of 'Servus' varies by language. It is spelled 'servus' in German, Bavarian, Slovak, Romanian, and Czech. In Ukrainian, it is spelled 'сервус' in the Cyrillic alphabet. In Slovenian and Croatian, it is spelled 'serbus'. In Hungarian, it is 'szervusz', and in Polish, it is 'serwus'.