How do you respond to a German greeting?
You can respond to “Wie geht's” with just a few words or you can tell your conversation partner all about your day. It is common and even expected to follow up any answer with “und dir/Ihnen?” (what about you?) or with “und selbst?” (and yourself?).
- “Nur Bahnhof verstehen” ...
- “Jemandem die Daumen drücken” ...
- “Ich glaub mein Schwein pfeift” ...
- “Ich glaub' ich spinne” ...
- “Fix und fertig sein” ...
- “Bock haben” ...
- “Jemandem auf den Keks gehen” ...
- “Die Nase voll haben” The literal translation is: “To have the nose full”
- 'Du siehst heute toll aus' is a unisex statement that means you look fantastic today. ...
- 'Du bist sehr schön' means you're beautiful. ...
- 'Du siehst umwerfend aus! ...
- 'Gelb steht dir' means 'yellow just suits you well. ...
- 'Deine Frisur gefällt mir' means 'I just love your hairstyle.
A quick, firm handshake is the traditional greeting. Titles are very important and denote respect. Use a person's title and their surname until invited to use their first name. You should say Herr or Frau and the person's title and their surname.
When someone says danke, the standard response is bitte. This normally means 'please', but within the context of responding to a 'thank you', it means 'you're welcome'. If instead they say danke schön, then you should reply by saying bitte schön.
- Torschlusspanik. ...
- Fernweh. ...
- Zweisamkeit. ...
- Backpfeifengesicht. ...
- Feierabend. ...
- Reisefieber. ...
- Vorfreude. ...
- Waldeinsamkeit.
Boche (pejorative)
Pronounced [boʃ], boche is a derisive term used by the Allies during World War I, often collectively ("the Boche" meaning "the Germans"). It is a shortened form of the French slang portmanteau alboche, itself derived from Allemand ("German") and caboche ("head" or "cabbage").
1. Eichhörnchen (Squirrel) Although squirrel is also tough to pronounce in English, it's a classic when it comes to difficult German words to pronounce. Many English speakers struggle, and some even consider this the hardest German word to pronounce.
Unlike other languages, the German expression “Ich liebe dich” is almost exclusively used in romantic relationships. Nevertheless, Germans like to express their love for their friends and family too. In most cases, they say “Ich hab' dich lieb,” which could be translated as “I have love for you.”
Flirting In German: It's All In The Eyes
It just means sexy eye contact could involve a little more “innuendo” than usual. This does not mean it'll necessarily be accompanied by a smile, or that you'll be invited with a lingering gaze. A favorite move when flirting in German is the “look, but then quickly look away.”
How do German guys flirt?
According to at least one Babbel insider living in Berlin, Germans have a tendency to stare and to hold intense eye contact. This doesn't mean all eye contact is sexy eye contact. It just means sexy eye contact could involve a little more “innuendo” than usual.
The phrase 'pretty girl' is translated as schönes Mädchen (pronounced: SHUO-nehs MEHD-chehn) or hübsches Mädchen (HUEB-shehs MEHD-chehn).

- Gifts are definitely Willkommen.
- Greet the German way.
- 3. ' Keep your hands where we can see 'em'
- Don't forget to make eye contact.
- Knowing when it's time to dig in.
You can use schön “beautiful” and hinreißend “gorgeous” for women.
Compliments In German. You are sweet! — Du bist süß! You have beautiful eyes. — Du hast schöne Augen.
Germans may appear reserved and unfriendly until you get to know them better. Never put your hands in your pockets when talking with someone. "Thumbs up" gesture means "one" or is a sign of appreciation or agreement.
- 8 No-Nos to Avoid Doing in Germany. ...
- The Middle Finger. ...
- Thumb Between Index and Middle Fingers. ...
- Forearm Jerk. ...
- Yellow Roses. ...
- Hands in Pockets. ...
- Clicking Your Fingers in a Restaurant. ...
- Sharp Objects.
Interjection. bitte schön. (commonly said in answer to danke schön (“thank you very much”); usually not translated into English) don't mention it, not at all, you're welcome.
Bitte is an essential word in German etiquette and in everyday life in German-speaking areas. It can mean “please”, “pardon”, “go ahead”, “here you go”, “you're welcome”, and even “yes, please”.
Bitte schön means your welcome and bitte means please?
What is the cutest German word?
- Schatz (treasure) Let's start with an old classic. ...
- Maus (mouse) ...
- Bӓrchen (little bear) ...
- Knuddelbӓr (cuddle bear) ...
- Schnecke (snail) ...
- Perle (pearl) ...
- Hase (bunny) ...
- Schnucki (darling / sweetie pie)
How Do Germans Call Their Own Pets. The most popular dog names are, for example, Adler (meaning eagle), Bach (der Bach is a stream but also a surname of Johann Sebastian Bach), Heinrich (the German equivalent of Henry), or Siegfried (meaning victorious peace).
English | German | IPA |
---|---|---|
Mouse | Maus | [maʊ̯s] |
Snail | Schnecke | [ˈʃnɛkə] |
My love (male) | Mein Lieber | [maɪ̯n ˈliːbɐ] |
My love (female) | Meine Liebe | [ˈmaɪ̯nə ˈliːbə] |
silly little girl {noun}
Dummerchen {n} [coll.]
C2 (Upper Advanced/Fluent)
Your mastery at the C2 level lets you produce and understand highly complex German.
The German consonantal 'r' is described as a 'roll' or 'trill', by which we mean that the speech organs strike each other several times in quick succession in the articulation of this sound.
Schatz is the most common German term of endearment, according to surveys. Couples all over the country call each other this pet name or one of its many cute forms, such as Schätzchen (little treasure) or Schatzi (little treasure).
- Ich liebe dich. ...
- Ich hab' dich lieb. ...
- Willst du mein Freund/meine Freundin sein? (Do you want to be my boyfriend/girlfriend?) ...
- Willst du mit mir gehen? (Do you want to go out with me?) ...
- Schatz, Liebling, Kuschelbär (pet names) ...
- Ich bin bis über beide Ohren verliebt. ...
- Ich steh' auf dich.
- 1 She can't keep her eyes off you.
- 2 She makes subtle jokes when you're around.
- 3 Look for subtle signs she's flirting.
- 4 She touches you when she talks.
- 5 She says she likes you.
- 6 Don't be surprised if she skips the small talk.
- 7 She plans fun activities with you.
Basic Etiquette
It is rude to chew gum or keep one's hands in one's pockets whilst talking with someone. Cross your legs by putting one knee over the other. It is impolite to rest your feet on furniture. Tight punctuality (Pünktlichkeit) is expected in most professional and social situations.
Do Germans greet each other with a kiss?
The most common greeting is a handshake with direct eye contact. Men usually greet women first and wait for them to extend their hand. Close friends may hug to greet and younger people may kiss one another on the cheek. "Guten Tag" (Good day) or “Hallo” (Hello) are the most common verbal greetings used in Germany.
German men are more romantic and say "I love you" more often than their female counterparts, according to a poll released by Reader's Digest on Tuesday.
Meeting new people is relatively easy in Germany and dating practices are similar to other European countries. Teenagers generally begin to socialize with peers at school, within their neighborhood, or through social activities and local clubs.
Here's the answer... This weekend, a French friend told me that a German kiss is basically a French kiss but you swirl your tongue around in circles. Have you ever heard of that bad boy before? Have you done it?
Be Ready For Honest And Direct Conversation
Germans are very direct. They speak their minds, also when it comes to dating. They will let you know how they feel and whether you are their type or not. Protecting your feelings is not the number one priority when dating.
German | English |
---|---|
Hase | Bunny |
Terms of endearment for children | |
Kindchen | Sweetheart |
Mäusezähnchen | Little mouse tooth |
Fräulein (/ˈfrɔɪ. laɪn/ FROY-lyne, German: [ˈfʁɔʏlaɪn] ( listen)) is the German language honorific for unmarried women, comparable to Miss in English and Mademoiselle in French.
- Emilia.
- Ella.
- Lena.
- Lina.
- Julia.
- Ida.
- Leonie.
- Lea.
German people tend to be thrifty, be sensible, and respect one another's privacy, and they typically respect the structure and laws of society to an above-average degree. There is no place that this sense of 'order' is more apparent than in German business culture.
When it comes to small talk, Germans rarely chat about personal matters at first. Instead, they focus on sports, traveling, movies or cooking. You should avoid potentially controversial topics like politics or religion, reserving them for good friends only.
How do you get a German person to like you?
- Learn The German Language. Germans are more receptive to foreigners when they make an effort to speak German. ...
- Be Patient When Making Friends In Germany. Germans need time to warm up to new people. ...
- Stick To Your Word. One of the main foundations of friendship for Germans is trust.
Süsse or Süsser (sweetie)
- volume_up. niedliches Mädchen.
- volume_up. süße Mädchen.
ˈfrau̇ plural Frauen ˈfrau̇(-ə)n. sometimes disparaging. : a German married woman : wife. used as a title equivalent to Mrs.
Of course, when you're introduced to someone, you need to know how to reply. Very often people just reply with the same thing that has been said to them. Guten Morgen, Franz! – Guten Morgen, Helmut!
- First Option - "Gern geschehen"
- Second Option - "Bitte"
- A Quick Summary.
- How to Respond with "No Worries" in German.
- A Slightly More Challenging Version.
- A Response to a Big "Danke Sehr"
The right answer would thus be “Mir geht es gut! (Danke)!” (I'm feeling fine, (thank you))!” Or shorter: “Danke, gut!” (Good, thanks!)
Tschüss, ich wünsche dir eine gute Nacht.
Translation of "Dir auch '" in English
you, too.
Ich liebe dich is how to say “I love you” in German.
How do Germans greet?
The most common greeting is a handshake with direct eye contact. Men usually greet women first and wait for them to extend their hand. Close friends may hug to greet and younger people may kiss one another on the cheek. "Guten Tag" (Good day) or “Hallo” (Hello) are the most common verbal greetings used in Germany.
Interjection. bitte schön. (commonly said in answer to danke schön (“thank you very much”); usually not translated into English) don't mention it, not at all, you're welcome. (commonly said when offering or returning something; usually not translated into English) would you like?, here you are, thank you.
The German equivalent of 'my pleasure' is gern geschehen (pronounced: gehrn geh-SHEHN), which literally means 'done gladly.
Hi, how're you? = Grüß dich, wie gehts? / Grüß dich, wie geht's? (casual greeting)
Mit freundlichen Grüßen (yours sincerely) and Mit freundlichem Gruß (regards) are both perfectly acceptable closings for formal emails.
bis morgen. by tomorrow. Die Einreichung der Papiere muss bis morgen erfolgen. The filing of the papers needs to be done by tomorrow.
#1 Tschüss - “Goodbye” in German
It's short and casual, so we'll teach you a more formal way to say farewell in German in just a moment. As we shared in our post on how to say “hello” in German, Germans like to use diminutives and augmentatives to adapt the meaning of certain words. Tschüss is one of these words.
Schlaf schön! Sleep well! Sleep tight. back to top | home.
Sleep tight! I'll see you in the morning. gut schlafen verb. sleep well v.
References
- https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/german-culture/german-culture-etiquette
- https://www.thehealthyjournal.com/faq/how-do-german-men-flirt
- https://www.wikihow.com/Tell-if-a-German-Girl-Likes-You
- https://www.simplegermany.com/dating-in-germany/
- https://languagedrops.com/blog/bye-in-german
- https://housinganywhere.com/Germany/german-names
- https://discoverdiscomfort.com/youre-beautiful-in-german-schon/
- https://www.simplegermany.com/how-to-make-friends-in-germany/
- https://www.commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/germany-guide
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- https://blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-learners/learning-german/hallo-meeting-and-greeting-in-german/
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- https://en.bab.la/dictionary/english-german/cute-girl
- https://www.deepl.com/translator-mobile/q/de/bis+morgen/en/by+tomorrow/246e8f02
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- https://context.reverso.net/translation/german-english/Dir+auch+%27
- https://discoverdiscomfort.com/german-terms-of-endearment/
- https://www.fluentu.com/blog/german/how-to-write-an-email-in-german/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A4ulein
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- https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bitte_sch%C3%B6n
- https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-respond-to-Guten-Morgen
- https://www.expatica.com/de/living/love/dating-in-germany-106693/
- https://aussiegermantranslation.com.au/top-10-german-compliments/
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- https://discoverdiscomfort.com/wie-gehts-how-are-you-german/
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