Deutsch · A1 · vocabulary · 4 minutes
Greetings and introductions
Choose greeting, name, origin, and farewell phrases for formal or informal settings.
Understand the choice
A complete introduction moves from the time-appropriate greeting to name and origin, then selects du or Sie based on the relationship. Learn the whole exchange as social action.
Core rule: Use heißen for a name and aus for origin; formal greetings capitalize their noun.
Notice it in context
Guten Morgen, ich heiße Samira und komme aus Wien.
Good morning, my name is Samira and I come from Vienna.
Guten Morgen opens formally or neutrally; heiße gives the name; aus Wien gives origin.
Guten Tag, wie heißen Sie?
Good day, what is your name?
Heißen agrees with formal Sie, which is capitalized.
Hallo Ben, kommst du aus Hamburg?
Hello Ben, are you from Hamburg?
Informal du selects kommst; aus introduces Hamburg.
What to remember
- Tschüss is informal; Auf Wiedersehen is a neutral formal farewell.
- Guten Abend is a greeting; Gute Nacht is normally said when leaving or going to bed.
Common trap: Do not ask a stranger Wie heißt du? when formal address is expected; use Wie heißen Sie?