- Greetings generally differ in formality depending on whether a German knows the other person well or not.
- 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. In the South, some people may say “Grüß Gott” (literally translating as ‘Greet God’).
- In formal situations, one should address another person with their title and last name, “Herr” (Mr.) for men and “Frau” (Mrs.) for women. It is polite to continue to use formal titles until the person invites you to move on to a first-name basis.
German Culture
Greetings

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The figure of the total population of each country is drawn from the global estimates listed in the CIA World Factbook , unless otherwise stated. Statistics describing the country’s linguistic, religious and ethnic demographics are based on its most recent national census. However, if these statistics are out-dated, unavailable, unreliable, or the country’s statistical department does not formally gather information on the categories listed, the Cultural Atlas substitutes the most recent global estimates cited in the CIA World Factbook.
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You can find a direct link to all these sources under the ‘References’ tab at the bottom of the page, as well as the date this profile was published (indicating when these statistics were last updated).