Finding My Feet (and Saying “Hallo” Properly) – My German Greetings Journey

Okay, so, let me start by saying it’s been… a lot. Moving to Munich six months ago was the biggest, most incredible, and most utterly terrifying thing I’ve ever done. I’d always dreamt of living in Europe, of learning German, but actually being here, surrounded by a language I’m still wrestling with, is a whole different ballgame. My German isn’t amazing, not even close, but I’m getting there, and honestly, just trying to say “hello” to people has become a mini-adventure.

Right now, I’m mostly working as a receptionist at a small tech company, so I’m constantly meeting new people. And a surprisingly big part of that has been running into people from my old school back in England – or, more accurately, people who went to the same university before me. It’s weird, right? And that’s where I’ve realized just how important getting the greetings right is. It’s not just about saying the words; it’s about showing you’re friendly and acknowledge the connection.

The First Encounter: Sarah – Classmate from University

I ran into Sarah, one of my classmates from university, at the supermarket last week. I’d completely blanked on her name for a bit, which is embarrassing, but I managed to say, “Hallo Sarah! Wie geht’s dir?” (Hello Sarah! How are you?)

She immediately responded with a huge smile, “Hallo! Mir geht’s gut, danke. Und dir?” (Hello! I’m fine, thanks. And you?)

I felt a bit awkward just replying with “Mir geht’s auch gut.” (I’m also fine.) It felt a little…robotic. I wanted to add something, like a little comment about catching up. So I blurted out, “Ich habe gerade versucht, Brot zu backen, aber es ist ein Desaster!” (I was just trying to bake bread, but it’s a disaster!).

She laughed and said, “Oh, das ist lustig! Brot backen ist schwer!” (Oh, that’s funny! Baking bread is hard!). It felt much more natural, a little more friendly. I learned there – and this is important – you can share a small, lighthearted anecdote, even if it’s a bit of a failure. It shows you’re willing to be a little vulnerable.

• Subtitles: “Hallo Sarah! Wie geht’s dir?” – “Hello Sarah! How are you?” / “Mir geht’s gut, danke. Und dir?” – “I’m fine, thanks. And you?” / “Ich habe gerade versucht, Brot zu backen, aber es ist ein Desaster!” – “I was just trying to bake bread, but it’s a disaster!” / “Oh, das ist lustig! Brot backen ist schwer!” – “Oh, that’s funny! Baking bread is hard!”

The Teacher Situation: Herr Schmidt – University Professor

This was a completely different beast. I ran into Herr Schmidt, my Professor of German Literature, at the local coffee shop a few days later. I’m still incredibly intimidated by him – he’s brilliant, obviously, but also… very serious.

I hesitated, feeling awkward. I wanted to be respectful, but I also didn’t want to overdo it. Finally, I said, “Guten Tag, Herr Schmidt. Wie geht es Ihnen?” (Good day, Mr. Schmidt. How are you?)

He responded with a formal, “Guten Tag. Mir geht es gut, danke. Und Ihnen?” (Good day. I am fine, thank you. And you?)

I realized immediately I’d gone too formal! It sounded incredibly stiff. I wanted to say something a little warmer. I remembered a phrase my colleague used – “Wie ist Ihre Arbeit?” (How is your work?). So I attempted, “Wie ist Ihre Arbeit im Moment?” (How is your work at the moment?).

He paused, looking slightly surprised, and then said, “Es geht. Ich schreibe gerade eine Vorlesung.” (It’s okay. I’m writing a lecture right now.) He didn’t elaborate, just a polite, professional response. It was a good reminder that formality is really important here, especially with people in positions of authority. I definitely overcomplicated things.

• Subtitles: “Guten Tag, Herr Schmidt. Wie geht es Ihnen?” – “Good day, Mr. Schmidt. How are you?” / “Mir geht es gut, danke. Und Ihnen?” – “I am fine, thank you. And you?” / “Wie ist Ihre Arbeit? – “How is your work?” / “Wie ist Ihre Arbeit im Moment?” – “How is your work at the moment?” / “Es geht. Ich schreibe gerade eine Vorlesung.” – “It’s okay. I’m writing a lecture right now.”

Vocabulary Roundup & Key Phrases

Here’s a little list of phrases that have been really helpful:

• Hallo – Hello
• Wie geht es Ihnen/dir? – How are you? (Formal/Informal)
• Mir geht’s gut/schlecht. – I’m fine/I’m not well.
• Danke. – Thank you.
• Bitte. – Please/You’re welcome.
• Es ist sehr nett, Sie/dich kennenzulernen. – It’s very nice to meet you. (Formal/Informal)
• Wie geht’s denn so? – How’s it going? (Informal)

My Biggest Lesson So Far

The biggest thing I’m learning is that it’s okay to make mistakes. I’m definitely going to stumble over my words, mispronounce things, and probably say the wrong thing at some point. But people are generally very understanding, especially if you show you’re trying. And honestly, even just attempting to speak German is a huge step.

I’m still figuring out the nuances of German greetings, but I’m determined to get better. And who knows, maybe one day I’ll be confidently chatting with Sarah and Herr Schmidt, completely comfortable in my (still developing!) German. For now, I’ll keep practicing, keep smiling, and keep saying “Hallo!”

Would you like me to share some more specific phrases for follow-up conversation?