German words for kids · Greetings & manners
How to say “hello” in German
Hello is usually the very first word a child uses in a new language, and the one they get to use most: with family, at the door, on a video call.
Hello in German
hallo
Sounds like ≈ HAH-loh
Good to know: Hallo is used just like the English hello, with anyone. In southern Germany and Austria you'll also hear servus or grüß Gott.
Hear it in a song
Real lines from our German songs, with the English meaning shown in the app:
Hallo, Natur! Wie geht es dir?
Hello, Nature, how are you?
from Hallo, Natur (Hello, Nature)
Hallo, hallo, schön, dass du da bist!
Hello, hello, so nice that you're here!
from Hallo, mein Freund (Hi, Friend)
Schnell und langsam, hallo!
Fast and slow, hello!
from Schnell und langsam (Fast and Slow)
3 songs that teach it
“Hello” is one of the key words in these songs. Every line is shown in German with its English meaning.
Hallo, wie geht's?
Hi, How Are You? · Greetings · Free
- hallo · hello
- Wie geht's? · how are you?
- gut · good
- Lass uns spielen! · let's play!
Hallo, Natur
Hello, Nature · Nature · Premium
- Sonne · sun
- Himmel · sky
- Baum · tree
- Blume · flower
Hallo, mein Freund
Hi, Friend · Greetings · Free
- hallo · hello
- Freund · friend
- Wie geht's? · how are you?
- Name · name
Also sung in: Zähl mit mir, Die Katze und der Hund, Dschungeltiere, Mama und Papa, Schnell und langsam, Die Vokale, Der liebe Drache, Beim Kinderarzt and 5 more.
Practice ideas for parents
- 1Make hallo the only way anyone says hello in your house for a week, including to the cat and to teddies.
- 2Wave at things on a walk (a bus, a dog, a tree) and say hallo to each one. Silly targets get the most giggles and the most repeats.
- 3When a video call starts, let your child be the one who opens with hallo.
Related German words
“Hello” in other languages
Sing it in German, free
The first unit, 6 greeting songs with lyrics and English translation, is free forever. No card needed. Premium unlocks all 134 songs.
About the pronunciation: the “sounds like” spellings are rough English approximations for parents (capital letters show the stressed syllable). Germanhas sounds English doesn't, so treat them as a starting point and let the songs be the model. Songs are original and produced with AI music tools. Ideas for using German songs with your family.