A1 Lesson 1 — Greetings & How to Introduce Yourself

 

GREETINGS & INTRODUCTIONS

Your First Words in German

Master the most essential phrases to introduce yourself and greet Germans like a local.

Real Talk: Germans appreciate when foreigners make an effort. Even a simple "Guten Morgen" (Good morning) before ordering coffee shows respect and opens doors. This lesson teaches you the essentials.

📚 Core Greetings (Memorize These First)

German	English	When to Use
Guten Morgen!	Good morning	6am–12pm (formal)
Guten Tag!	Good day / Hello	12pm–5pm (most common)
Guten Abend!	Good evening	5pm–11pm (formal)
Hallo!	Hello (casual)	Any time, with friends
Wie geht's?	How are you? (casual)	With friends / colleagues
Wie geht es Ihnen?	How are you? (formal)	Strangers, elderly, boss

🎤 How to Introduce Yourself

Here's a simple introduction you can use anywhere:

Hallo, ich bin [Your Name]. (Hello, I'm [Your Name].)

Ich komme aus [Country]. (I come from [Country].)

Mir geht's gut, danke! (I'm doing well, thanks!)

⚠️ 3 Mistakes Beginners Make

❌ Mistake 1: Using "Guten Tag" after 5pm

✅ Fix: Switch to "Guten Abend" in the evening. Germans notice!

❌ Mistake 2: Forgetting the greeting when ordering

✅ Fix: Always start with "Guten Tag!" before asking for coffee. It sounds polite, not robotic.

❌ Mistake 3: Using "Wie geht es?" with close friends

✅ Fix: Stick to "Wie geht's?" (casual) or "Was machst du?" (What are you up to?) with friends.

💡 Insider Tip: Regional Variations

North Germany (Hamburg, Bremen):
They say "Moin!" or "Moin Moin!" — this is NOT rude, it's the standard friendly greeting. You'll hear it morning, afternoon, and evening.

Bavaria (Munich):
"Grüß Gott!" is common instead of "Guten Tag." More traditional, especially with older people.

Vienna (Austria):
"Servus!" for casual greetings. Very regional, but you'll hear it everywhere.

✍️ Practice Sentences

1. Guten Morgen! Wie geht's dir? (Good morning! How are you?)
2. Hallo, ich bin Sofia. Ich komme aus Brasilien. (Hi, I'm Sofia. I'm from Brazil.)
3. Guten Tag! Mir geht's gut, danke. Und dir? (Hello! I'm doing well, thanks. And you?)
4. Guten Abend! Freut mich, dich kennenzulernen. (Good evening! Nice to meet you.)

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📖 Next Lesson:

→ A1 Lesson 2: Numbers 0-20 & Counting

🔗 Related Posts:

• A1 Lesson 2: Numbers 0–20 & Everyday Counting
• A1 Lesson 3: Days, Months & Telling Time
• See all A1 lessons →

Have questions about German greetings? Drop them in the comments — our community answers them all the time. You're not alone in this journey!