formal and informal greetings
6
votes
3answers
91 views
“Lieber, sehr geehrter Herr X”: wie antworten?
Folgende Situation:
Sie kontaktieren Firma A in einer geschäftlichen Angelegenheit. Der Telefonanruf wird an Frau B duchgestellt, gemeinsam mit ihrem Ehemann geschäftsführende Gesellschafterin des ...
3
votes
2answers
60 views
Is writing “Herr Prof. X” exaggerated/mandatory? Is it old-fashioned?
How necessary or exaggerated is the following Anrede?
"Sehr geehrter Herr Prof. X" bzw. "Sehr geehrte Frau Dr. Z"
I mean, should I write Herr Prof. X, or is Prof. X enough?
Also, is it ...
6
votes
1answer
156 views
A strange greeting! Servos?
Ever since I have arrived in Germany, I have been picking up words I here often and then going back home to check their meanings. There is one word that still baffles me.
It is a form of greeting.
...
13
votes
3answers
247 views
How to address more than one person in an E-mail?
I have to address my future German Au Pair family in an E-mail and until now have only been in contact with the woman. However the last E-mail was signed with both names, so I now feel I should ...
1
vote
2answers
124 views
Wie einer neuen Beziehung viel Glück wünschen?
Wenn 2 Personen eine Beziehung eingehen ist es ja üblich denen viel Glück zu wünschen. Das finde ich aber unpassend, da dies sarkastisch rüberkommen kann.
Was gibt es denn da für Alternativen.
5
votes
4answers
314 views
How does a German say “Nice to meet you”?
In English it is common to reply with "Nice to meet you" when you were introduced to somebody. Likewise you say "Was nice to meet you" on leaving.
Are there any similar phrases a German would use in ...
10
votes
5answers
981 views
How do I reply to an email using salutation if a gender is unknown?
Recently I got this confusion when I received an email in German as I was unable to make out the gender of the sender to reply as Sehr geehrte(r) Frau/Herr.
If the names are David, Tom, Christian, ...
3
votes
2answers
100 views
What is the origin of “Helau”?
I heard native speakers saying "Helau" as a greeting, What's the etymology of the word?
5
votes
1answer
263 views
Wie grüßt man in der Schweiz?
Wahrscheinlich kennen alle den schweizer Gruß "Grüezi". Allerdings habe ich im Schweizerischen Idiotikon folgendes gelesen:
"Gott Grüezi hört-me nümme gärn, Salü und Servus sind modärn"
In der ...
5
votes
2answers
546 views
Did “Frohes Schaffen!” originate from Nazi propaganda?
At work I often hear the greeting:
"Frohes Schaffen!"
Some time ago I was told that I should not use "Frohes Schaffen" as it is supposed to come from Nazi propaganda.
Ever since then I feel ...
9
votes
5answers
331 views
“Duzen” or “Siezen”, when addressing two or more people
When talking to a mother (whom you would siezen) and her child which one would you use?
Waren Sie beide in der Stadt?
or
Wart Ihr beide in der Stadt?
Or is it uncommon to address several ...
11
votes
4answers
455 views
Do we use “Du” or “Sie” to address users in a German operation manual?
When writing or translating an operation manual for software (including game software) or hardware users are mostly addressed by the polite form "Sie". Increasingly however we can also find manuals ...
7
votes
2answers
315 views
Wie sollte ich eine Lehrerin, die mich siezt, in einer Email grüßen und verabschieden?
Meine Deutschlehrerin an der Universität siezt mich, aber kennt meinen Vornamen. Ich möchte ihr eine E-Mail schreiben. Sie hat mir noch nie geschrieben. Welche Begrüßung und welche Verabschiedung ...
7
votes
4answers
441 views
What is the correct salutation for people with an academic grade or title
Other than e.g. in France an academic grade or title is still widely used in German speaking regions. I observe that in letters the title is mostly used. But in conversations a person may be addressed ...
8
votes
4answers
467 views
What is the difference between “moin” and “moin moin”?
"Moin" and "moin moin" both are popular salutations in northern Germany - I'm interested in the differences between them.
Some say "moin moin" is intended as an answer to "moin", others will label ...
15
votes
1answer
2k views
Woher kommt “pfiat di”/“pfiat eich” als Abschiedsformel im bayerischen Raum?
Im südlichen deutschsprachigen Raum (Bayern und weiter südlich) Raum ist "pfiat di" bzw. "pfiat eich" eine üblicher Grußformel zum Abschied.
Was bedeutet sie bzw. woher kommt sie (etymologisch ...
14
votes
6answers
3k views
Was ist die korrekte Anrede in E-Mails an Personen, die man nicht persönlich kennt?
Was ist die korrekte Anrede in E-Mails an Personen, die man nicht persönlich kennt?
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren
oder
Sehr geehrte Frau / Herr ...
Beides klingt sehr formell,
Hallo
...
26
votes
12answers
3k views
Polite alternatives to “Grüß Gott”?
I'm looking for polite alternatives to the omnipresent
Grüß Gott
in Austria/Bavaria. I dislike using a religious phrase to salute others (potentially non religious persons). I'm also not very ...
15
votes
6answers
1k views
In what context do we write “Guten Tag” rather than “Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren”?
Formal letters almost always used to start with "Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren," or "Sehr geehrter Herr Maier" if the person is known. However more and more we see formal correspondence that addresses ...
