German Alphabets and 10+ Common Greetings: Learn Basic Words with Examples

This complete article provides an easy -to-understand breakdown of the German alphabet, including special characters and their pronunciation. It then transitions into essential German greetings, introductions and farewells, equipping beginners with the fundamentals phrases needed for basic communication.

Jun 18, 2025, 16:46 IST
Learn Easily Common German Alphabets, Greetings and Goodbyes (Farewell)
Learn Easily Common German Alphabets, Greetings and Goodbyes (Farewell)

Embarking on the journey of learning a new language opens up a world of connections and exciting opportunities. For those who want to learn German, which has a long history and clear rules, you need to start with its alphabet and how to say hello. Some German letters look like English ones, but they sound different. German also has special letters that help you speak correctly. It's important to know how to say "hello," "goodbye," and introduce yourself, as this helps you start talking. This guide makes learning the German alphabet easy and gives you the main words you need to start speaking German right away.

Check: Easy Way to Learn French

German Alphabet and Common Greetings: Your Essential Guide

Learning the foundational elements of any language is the key to unlocking its potential. For German, this begins with understanding its distinct alphabet and mastering the everyday phrases used for greeting and farewell. This guide will provide you with a clear, organized breakdown of both, along with easy-to-follow pronunciation tips.

1. The German Alphabet (Das deutsche Alphabet)

The German alphabet consists of the same 26 letters as the English alphabet, plus four special characters: three umlauts (Ä, Ö, Ü) and the Eszett (ß). Mastering their pronunciation is crucial for speaking German correctly.

Basic Letters (A-Z):

German Letter

German Name Pronunciation (Approx. English Sound)

Common English Equivalent/Example Sound

A a

ah

as in "father"

B b

beh

as in "bed"

C c

tseh

as in "tsunami" (often like 'ts')

D d

deh

as in "dog"

E e

eh

as in "get"

F f

eff

as in "fan"

G g

geh

as in "go"

H h

hah

as in "hat"

I i

ee

as in "machine"

J j

yot

as in "yes"

K k

kah

as in "kite"

L l

ell

as in "lamp"

M m

em

as in "mat"

N n

en

as in "no"

O o

oh

as in "go"

P p

peh

as in "pen"

Q q

koo

as in "queen" (always followed by 'u')

R r

air (rolled or guttural 'r')

A soft, sometimes rolled 'r' sound

S s

ess

as in "zoo" (at beginning of word/vowel), "sit" (otherwise)

T t

teh

as in "top"

U u

ooh

as in "flute"

V v

fow

as in "fox" (often like 'f')

W w

veh

as in "vase" (like 'v' in English)

X x

iks

as in "fox"

Y y

ypsilon

as in "tune" (like 'ü' or 'i')

Z z

tsett

as in "tsunami" (always like 'ts')

Special Characters:

German Character

German Name Pronunciation (Approx. English Sound)

Description / Example Sound

Ä ä

ah-umlaut (like 'e' in bed)

Like the 'e' in "bed" or "air"

Ö ö

oh-umlaut (like 'ur' in fur, with lips rounded)

Like the 'ur' in "fur" but with lips tightly rounded, or 'œ' in French "boeuf"

Ü ü

ooh-umlaut (like 'ee' in queen, with lips rounded)

Like the 'ee' in "queen" but with lips tightly rounded, or 'u' in French "lune"

ß (Eszett/sharp S)

ess-tsett

A sharp 's' sound, like 'ss' in "mass" (never starts a word)

2. Common German Greetings and Farewells (Gängige Begrüßungen und Verabschiedungen)

Knowing how to greet people appropriately is fundamental. Here are some common phrases for various situations:

Greetings:

German Phrase

Pronunciation (Approx. English Sound)

English Translation

Usage Notes

Hallo!

hah-loh

Hello!

Universal, informal, and common.

Guten Morgen!

goo-ten mor-gen

Good morning!

Used until around noon.

Guten Tag!

goo-ten tahk

Good day! / Hello!

Most common formal greeting, used from noon to evening.

Guten Abend!

goo-ten ah-bent

Good evening!

Used from late afternoon/evening onwards.

Gute Nacht!

goo-te nakh-t

Good night!

Used when going to bed or leaving late at night.

Grüß Gott!

grees got

Greet God! / Hello!

Common in Southern Germany and Austria (formal).

Servus!

ser-voos

Hello! / Goodbye!

Informal, common in Southern Germany and Austria.

Moin!

moyn

Hello! / Good day!

Informal, common in Northern Germany.

Wie geht es Ihnen?

vee gayt es ee-nen

How are you? (formal)

Used with strangers, elders, or in business.

Wie geht es dir?

vee gayt es deer

How are you? (informal)

Used with friends, family, or peers.

Mir geht es gut.

meer gayt es goot

I am fine.

Common response.

Und Ihnen?

oont ee-nen

And you? (formal)

To politely return the question.

Und dir?

oont deer

And you? (informal)

To politely return the question.

Farewells:

German Phrase

Pronunciation (Approx. English Sound)

English Translation

Usage Notes

Auf Wiedersehen!

owf vee-der-zey-en

Goodbye! (formal)

Most common formal farewell.

Tschüss!

chooss

Bye! (informal)

Most common informal farewell.

Bis bald!

bis balt

See you soon!

Used when you expect to see someone again soon.

Bis später!

bis shpay-ter

See you later!

Used when you expect to see someone again later today.

Schönen Tag noch!

shur-nen tahk nokh

Have a nice day!

Common parting phrase during the day.

Also Check: 

French Greetings & Self-Introduction Phrases
Colours, Animals & Food Names in French with English Meaning

Anisha Mishra
Anisha Mishra

Content Writer

Anisha Mishra is a mass communication professional and content strategist with a total two years of experience. She's passionate about creating clear, results-driven content—from articles to social media posts—that genuinely connects with audiences. With a proven track record of shaping compelling narratives and boosting engagement for brands like Shiksha.com, she excels in the education sector, handling CBSE, State Boards, NEET, and JEE exams, especially during crucial result seasons. Blending expertise in traditional and new digital media, Anisha constantly explores current content trends. Connect with her on LinkedIn for fresh insights into education content strategy and audience behavior, and let's make a lasting impact together.
... Read More

Get here latest School, CBSE and Govt Jobs notification and articles in English and Hindi for Sarkari Naukari, Sarkari Result and Exam Preparation. Empower your learning journey with Jagran Josh App - Your trusted guide for exams, career, and knowledge! Download Now

Trending

Latest Education News