German greetings hold formality as the default — Sie stands until the relationship clearly shifts. (Audio for this section is in production — the phrases are below.) German social etiquette leans precision over warmth — saying the right thing in the right order lands smoother than enthusiasm. (Audio for this section is in production — the phrases are below.) German idioms sit close to their literal sense — small, dry pictures you can drop into conversation. (Audio for this section is in production — the phrases are below.) Younger German borrows from English and Berlin scene — a few words have crossed into everyday use. (Audio for this section is in production — the phrases are below.)
Greetings
German greetings hold formality as the default — Sie stands until the relationship clearly shifts. (Audio for this section is in production — the phrases are below.)
Guten Tag. Wie geht es Ihnen?
Good day. How are you? (formal)
Use Sie with strangers, elders, and anyone you have just met. The colloquial "Wie geht's?" drops Sie and lives mostly among friends.
Audio: Guten Tag. Wie geht es Ihnen? Danke, gut. Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen.
Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen.
Pleased to meet you.
Said in reply to introductions. The Sie-form stays polite across both formal and casual German introductions.
Audio: Guten Tag. Wie geht es Ihnen? Danke, gut. Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen.
Etiquette
German social etiquette leans precision over warmth — saying the right thing in the right order lands smoother than enthusiasm. (Audio for this section is in production — the phrases are below.)
Entschuldigung.
Excuse me.
Two flavors — Entschuldigung (formal apology) and the lighter "Entschuldige bitte" — lean formal in shops, pharmacies, and offices.
Audio: Entschuldigung. Bitte. Danke schön. Es tut mir leid.
Auf Wiedersehen.
Goodbye (formal).
Said when leaving a shop or ending a phone call. The shorter "Tschüss" is friendly-casual only — mind the room before swapping.
Audio: Entschuldigung. Bitte. Danke schön. Auf Wiedersehen.
Common idioms
German idioms sit close to their literal sense — small, dry pictures you can drop into conversation. (Audio for this section is in production — the phrases are below.)
Tomaten auf den Augen haben.
To have tomatoes on one's eyes — to miss what's right in front of you.
A light scolding used when someone overlooks something obvious; gentler than it sounds in English.
Audio: Tomaten auf den Augen haben. Die Daumen drücken. Das ist nicht mein Bier.
Die Daumen drücken.
Press the thumbs — good luck!
The everyday "fingers crossed" replacement — said the same way before an exam, a job interview, or a Bundesliga match.
Audio: Tomaten auf den Augen haben. Die Daumen drücken. Das ist nicht mein Bier.
Regional slang
Younger German borrows from English and Berlin scene — a few words have crossed into everyday use. (Audio for this section is in production — the phrases are below.)
Geil.
Cool, awesome (originally sexual).
In modern colloquial German this is mostly a positive intensifier among younger speakers. Mind the room with elders.
Audio: Geil! Servus. Alles klar bei dir?
Servus.
Hi / goodbye (Bavarian).
A southern German / Bavarian greeting and farewell — replacing "Hallo" / "Tschüss" up to Nuremberg and Munich.
Audio: Geil! Servus. Alles klar bei dir?
Living language
German — Greetings · Etiquette · Common idioms · Regional slang
Cultural module — listen to native clips, read the transcripts, and pick up the phrases only locals use.
The four big doors into a language — greetings, etiquette, idioms, and the words only locals know. Listen, read the transcript, then try it out loud.
German greetings hold formality as the default — Sie stands until the relationship clearly shifts. (Audio for this section is in production — the phrases are below.)
Listen to a native clip
TRANSCRIPTGuten Tag. Wie geht es Ihnen? Danke, gut. Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen.
Guten Tag. Wie geht es Ihnen?
Good day. How are you? (formal)
— Use Sie with strangers, elders, and anyone you have just met. The colloquial "Wie geht's?" drops Sie and lives mostly among friends.
Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen.
Pleased to meet you.
— Said in reply to introductions. The Sie-form stays polite across both formal and casual German introductions.
Etiquette
German social etiquette leans precision over warmth — saying the right thing in the right order lands smoother than enthusiasm. (Audio for this section is in production — the phrases are below.)
Listen to a native clip
TRANSCRIPTEntschuldigung. Bitte. Danke schön. Es tut mir leid.
Entschuldigung.
Excuse me.
— Two flavors — Entschuldigung (formal apology) and the lighter "Entschuldige bitte" — lean formal in shops, pharmacies, and offices.
Auf Wiedersehen.
Goodbye (formal).
— Said when leaving a shop or ending a phone call. The shorter "Tschüss" is friendly-casual only — mind the room before swapping.
Common idioms
German idioms sit close to their literal sense — small, dry pictures you can drop into conversation. (Audio for this section is in production — the phrases are below.)
Listen to a native clip
TRANSCRIPTTomaten auf den Augen haben. Die Daumen drücken. Das ist nicht mein Bier.
Tomaten auf den Augen haben.
To have tomatoes on one's eyes — to miss what's right in front of you.
— A light scolding used when someone overlooks something obvious; gentler than it sounds in English.
Die Daumen drücken.
Press the thumbs — good luck!
— The everyday "fingers crossed" replacement — said the same way before an exam, a job interview, or a Bundesliga match.
Regional slang
Younger German borrows from English and Berlin scene — a few words have crossed into everyday use. (Audio for this section is in production — the phrases are below.)
Listen to a native clip
TRANSCRIPTGeil! Servus. Alles klar bei dir?
Geil.
Cool, awesome (originally sexual).
— In modern colloquial German this is mostly a positive intensifier among younger speakers. Mind the room with elders.
Servus.
Hi / goodbye (Bavarian).
— A southern German / Bavarian greeting and farewell — replacing "Hallo" / "Tschüss" up to Nuremberg and Munich.
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