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Greetings & Small Talk ​

The little exchanges that open and close almost every encounter.

Germans switch between du (informal — friends, family, young people) and Sie (formal — strangers, older people, shops, offices). Using the wrong one can feel rude, so each dialogue below is labelled. When in doubt with an adult you don't know, use Sie.

Meeting a friend ​

Informal (du) — two friends run into each other.
Anna
Hallo Ben! Wie geht's?
Hi Ben! How are you?
Ben
Hey Anna! Danke, mir geht's gut. Und dir?
Hey Anna! Thanks, I'm good. And you?
Anna
Auch gut, aber ich bin ein bisschen müde.
Also good, but I'm a bit tired.
Ben
Kein Wunder, es ist Montag!
No wonder, it's Monday!
Good to know: "Wie geht's?" is short for "Wie geht es dir?" The answer uses the Dativ: mir geht's gut (I'm well). Reply options from best to worst: sehr gut → gut → es geht (so-so) → nicht so gut.

A formal greeting ​

Formal (Sie) — two colleagues or a shopkeeper and a customer.
Frau Klein
Guten Tag, Herr Wagner! Wie geht es Ihnen?
Good day, Mr. Wagner! How are you?
Herr Wagner
Guten Tag! Danke, sehr gut. Und Ihnen?
Good day! Thanks, very well. And you?
Frau Klein
Danke, auch gut.
Thanks, also good.
Good to know: the formal "you" is Ihnen (Dativ of Sie), always capitalised. Time-of-day greetings: Guten Morgen (until ~11), Guten Tag (daytime), Guten Abend (evening). In the south you'll also hear Grüß Gott.

Saying goodbye ​

Informal (du) — wrapping up and heading off.
Anna
Ich muss jetzt gehen. Bis später!
I have to go now. See you later!
Ben
Okay, tschüss! Schönen Tag noch!
Okay, bye! Have a nice day!
Anna
Danke, gleichfalls!
Thanks, likewise!
Good to know: tschüss is casual "bye"; Auf Wiedersehen is the formal version. Other useful farewells: bis später (see you later), bis morgen (see you tomorrow), bis bald (see you soon). "Gleichfalls" = "you too / likewise".