German · A1 (Beginner)
Greetings in German: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful German words for greetings are Hallo (Hello), Tschüss (Goodbye) and Guten Morgen (Good morning). The full German greetings phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential German vocabulary for greetings, with example sentences and English translations. This is A1 (Beginner) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning German to live, work, or settle abroad.
Source: Language Lab's German curriculum (vocabulary & example sentences). · Join the beta →
Key greetings vocabulary
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Hallo | Hello |
| Tschüss | Goodbye |
| Guten Morgen | Good morning |
| Danke | Thank you |
| Bitte | Please / You're welcome |
| Ich heiße | My name is |
| Entschuldigung | Excuse me |
| Gute Nacht | Good night |
| Ja | Yes |
| Nein | No |
Example sentences
Hallo, wie geht es Ihnen?
Hello, how are you? (formal)
Tschüss, bis morgen!
Goodbye, see you tomorrow!
Guten Morgen, Frau Schmidt!
Good morning, Mrs Schmidt!
Danke, das ist sehr nett.
Thank you, that is very kind.
Bitte, nehmen Sie Platz.
Please, have a seat.
Ich heiße Maria. Wie heißen Sie?
My name is Maria. What is your name?
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
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