If you want to say “hi” in German, the word is hallo (pronounced HAH-lo). It’s one of the first words learners pick up, and it’s used in nearly every situation.
The most common greeting in German is hallo.
Examples
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Hallo, wie geht’s?
Hi, how are you?
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Hallo, ich heiße Maria.
Hi, my name is Maria.
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Hallo zusammen!
Hi everyone!
Hallo is friendly and widely used in both casual and polite settings. You’ll also hear younger Germans say hi, borrowed directly from English, but hallo is the standard greeting.
More Examples
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Hallo, schön dich zu sehen.
Hi, nice to see you.
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Hallo, kann ich dir helfen?
Hi, can I help you?
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Hallo, ist da jemand?
Hi, is anybody there?
The German hallo shares its roots with the English hello. Both come from older forms like holla or hollo, which were originally used to call out and get someone’s attention—like shouting “hey there!” Over time, they softened into everyday greetings.
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