Greetings and Introductions

Willkommen! Welcome to German!#

Today we are going to learn how to say hello and goodbye in German. German is a language spoken in countries like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Millions of children just like you speak German every day!

How to Say Hello#

In German, the most common way to say hello is Hallo (say it like: HAH-loh). It sounds a lot like the English word "hello," dösn't it? That makes it easy to remember!

There is another greeting used in the morning: Guten Morgen (say it like: GOO-ten MOR-gen). This means "Good morning." You can say this when you first arrive at school or when you see someone after waking up.

In the afternoon, Germans say Guten Tag (say it like: GOO-ten TAHK). This means "Good day" or "Good afternoon." It is a polite and friendly way to greet someone you meet during the day.

How to Say Goodbye#

When it is time to leave, Germans say Tschuss (say it like: CHOOS — the sound is a bit like sneezing!). This is the friendly, everyday way to say goodbye.

You can also say Auf Wiedersehen (say it like: owf VEE-der-zayn). This is a more formal goodbye. It actually means "Until we see each other again." Isn't that a nice thought?

Another fun goodbye is Tschau (say it like: CHOW). It is borrowed from Italian and Germans use it just like saying "Bye!"

Practice Time!#

Let's practice! Imagine you walk into your classroom. You see your teacher. What do you say?

• In the morning: Guten Morgen!
• During the day: Hallo! or Guten Tag!

Now it is the end of the day and you are going home. What do you say?

• Tschuss! or Auf Wiedersehen!

Try saying these words out loud right now. The more you practice, the easier it gets. Great job — you already know your first German words!