2023-10-11 08:33:46
Germany German language
Hello, Grüezi, Tach – that’s how you say hello properly
Anyone traveling in German-speaking countries must be prepared for a variety of expressions that are used when greeting or saying goodbye. There are many misunderstandings as to the origin and meaning of the terms.
As of: 8:33 a.m. | Reading time: 3 minutes
Source: Infographic WELT
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“Grüß Gott!” If you pause at this greeting, then you probably don’t come from southern Germany or the Alpine region. Or you haven’t been hiking in the mountains for a while. North Germans like to answer snippily, “When I see him.” It means something completely different. Because behind the greeting there is a pious wish – “May God greet you”, in the sense of “bless you”.
The Bavarian version means the same thing, in which God is no longer even mentioned because of the obviousness: “Griaß di”, i.e. “Greetings”, but with the meaning “may God greet you”. In the polite version it says “Griaß Enk”, “Greetings” – a kind of pluralis majestatis. The Swiss, on the other hand, say “Grüezi” or “Grüessech”, a short form of “God greets you”. We see: Anyone traveling in German-speaking countries has to be prepared for a variety of greetings.
Of course there are also godless greetings. The “Guten Tag” is very common, but to Alpine ears it sounds almost like a command, especially when shortened to a snappy “Tach!” And then there are the greetings that are used equally when coming and going. For example, when saying goodbye, you can say “Hello” quietly, but it is also possible to say hello. This word, common from southern Germany to South Tyrol – changed to “Servas” in Vienna – comes from Latin, means “servant” and means something like “at service”.
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Not to forget the “Moin!” Where it comes from is not entirely clear. It could be of Low German, Frisian or Luxembourgish origin, no one knows for sure. But it is clear that it has nothing to do with tomorrow. It has been used for a good 200 years, mainly in the north. Interestingly, there are also regions in Switzerland where this greeting is also common, usually as “Moin zäme”, which is used to greet several people, because the Schwyzerdütsch “zäme” means “together”.
Even in “Tschüssikowski” God is there
And what do you say when you say goodbye? The “bye” is widespread, especially in the north – although hardly anyone knows that God is hiding in it. The word has its roots in the French “Adieu” (“God-commanded”). Through linguistic detours it became “adjuus” and “atschüs”.
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The Huguenots brought this greeting to Germany, from which “Tschüss” developed, and in West Germany the variant “Tschö”. In southern climes, “Bye” was long considered a Piefke emotive word, but its gradual spread cannot be stopped – even in Vienna and Zurich it can now be heard.
In Bavaria and Austria you still often hear “Pfiat di” when you leave – the short form of “Pfiat di Gott” (“God protect you”). “Adieu,” on the other hand, is almost extinct; It was still very common throughout Germany until the First World War, but was swept out of usage as a result of anti-French propaganda. After all: In Switzerland and southern Germany, “Ade” developed and lasted, and here and there you can still hear “Adele”.
On the other hand, anyone who wants to say goodbye without any reference to God has a difficult time. “Goodbye” sounds impersonal, “Bis Valerian” sounds stupid, and “Tschüssikowski” doesn’t work either because – see above – God is in it. Let’s hope that “Bundesgartenciao” doesn’t catch on, even if it already does on Instagram circulated as a term with a hashtag.
The time shows how the German language is changing
Quarter past eleven or quarter past ten – opinions differ when it comes to the time. A new study shows an expression is being used less and less. Other words are also suppressed.
Source: WELT/Laura Fritsch
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