Before nine o'clock this morning, how many different ways did you already say hello? Think of four. We say hi, morning, howya, hey... German has its own set, and some of them will sound almost familiar.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Recognise eight German greetings when you hear them
- Match each greeting to what it means in English
- Greet a partner in German with a time-of-day hello or a friendly extra
Listen to each greeting, then say it back together with the class. First we will meet the time-of-day set, then a few friendly extras. Listen for the soft oo in Guten and the little ö sound in Hallöchen.
Watch the board. Two people at a time come up to take a turn: one picks a German greeting and says it out loud, the other finds its English meaning. Everyone else listens, and after every match the whole class says the German greeting together.
Open your copy. Choose four of these five hellos and write them down: Hallo, Guten Morgen, Guten Tag, Hi, Hallöchen. Beside each one, write morning or daytime. These are all hellos you could use before lunch.
Do not choose Guten Abend (evening only), Willkommen or Freut mich for this task — those two are for welcoming someone or meeting them for the first time, not for a clock time.
Time to practise with a partner. Partner A greets, Partner B answers with a different greeting, then you swap roles. First, watch a morning exchange and an evening exchange, then try both with your partner.
💬 Discussion time
In many German-speaking areas, people (including children greeting adults) often shake hands with a polite greeting such as Guten Tag. It is a small, everyday courtesy, not only for formal meetings.
- Which of today's greetings sounds closest to an English one?
- When might you use Willkommen or Freut mich instead of a plain Hallo?
After today you can:
- Greet someone in German in the morning, daytime or evening
- Choose a time-of-day hello or a friendly extra and use it with a partner
- Match the German words to their English meanings without looking
Next lesson we learn how to close a conversation properly, not just walk away.
That was a sample lesson from German for 5th Class
Every lesson in the course is ready to teach like this one. See what else comes with it, and how to order it.
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