When you first arrive in any German-speaking country, one of the first things you’re likely to hear is a warm Willkommen (welcome)! This isn’t to be confused with the English phrase “you’re welcome,” which is bitte in German. Rather, it’s a kind greeting used to show that your presence is welcome and acknowledged, much like saying “hello” in German. There are many ways to say “welcome” in German, from personal touches of more a heartfelt “welcome” to those based on the time of day, so read on to incorporate them into your German vocabulary.
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4 formal ways to say “welcome” in German
When you welcome someone in German within a formal setting, it’s all about choosing the right words for the occasion. Radiate professionalism in the office or when speaking to someone older than you with one of the formal ways to say “welcome” in German here.
1. Willkommen
The most common and neutral German word for “welcome” is willkommen, which you’re likely to hear from the pilot when your plane first touches down on German soil. While this term is a kind greeting, it keeps a tone of professionalism and politeness that is iconic to the German culture.
2. Mahlzeit!
Professional environments in Germany, like an office or similar workspace, use Mahlzeit (meal time) as a way to say “welcome” in the German language. You use this term as a friendly greeting around lunchtime with your colleagues, thus the reference to eating. Think of it less as a call to eat and more as a form of “good noon” that we don’t say in English.
3. Wir freuen uns, Sie bei uns zu haben
This German phrase translates to “we are happy to have you with us” and is typically used in formal settings to warmly welcome guests while maintaining a respectful tone of professionalism. The use of Sie (you, formal) in this sentence makes this expression more appropriate for polite interactions than using du (you, informal).
4. Grüß Gott
You are likely to hear this traditional greeting in Austria and Bavaria, from the beautiful mountains of southern Germany to German beer gardens. Grüß Gott (greet God) is used as a general way to say hello or welcome with heavily religious roots. Keep in mind if you travel to northern Germany that this phrase isn’t commonly used and might sound out of place.
4 friendly ways to say “welcome” in German
A comfortable step into the home of a loved one can be made special by a heartfelt “Welcome!” Learn how to spread this hospitality and warmth with these four friendly ways to say “welcome” in German.
1. Herzlich willkommen
If you’re welcoming someone close to you, like your grandmother from Germany, you can add a more personal touch to your welcome by saying herzlich willkommen (warm welcome) to her. It’s a nice way to show your care for a loved one and how excited you are to see them. Since this is a loving, familiar term, you’ll be less likely to use it in formal or professional settings where the lack of formality may be seen as insulting.
2. Moin Moin
You’re likely to hear the sounds of city life in Hamburg and the lapping waves along the North Sea coast of Germany accented by Moin Moin (good morning). The word Moin is from the low German dialect and means “morning.” While it’s often used as a friendly hello, it may also serve as a kind way to welcome someone. Avoid using this term in southern Germany, where it is not commonly used due to dialectal differences.
3. Willkommen zu Hause
Similarly, if you’re welcoming someone who’s come back home after a long day at work or a long vacation, you can say willkommen zu Hause, which means “welcome home” in German. Notice that “Hause” meaning “house” is capitalized despite not being at the start of the sentence. It’s important to remember that nouns are always capitalized in German grammar, regardless of their position in the sentence!
4. Willkommen zurück
After a long time spent away from home, few statements will let you show how much someone was missed than a willkommen zurück, or “welcome back” in German. Whether it’s welcoming your friend back to the country from their trip to Munich or a colleague coming back to the office, this way to say “welcome” in German adds the warmth of your familiarity to this person while welcoming them.
German greetings to pair with ‘wilkommen’ based on the time of day
In English, we have greetings based on the time of day such as “good morning” and “good afternoon.” The German language also shares this method of saying “welcome” based on time, but also uses gute Nacht (good night) as a greeting, whereas English typically uses it only as a form of goodbye.
Check your wristwatch and reference the chart below if you want to give a time-specific greeting to your German-speaking friends:
| German | Pronunciation | English Translation |
| guten Morgen | GOO-ten MORE-gin | good morning |
| guten Tag | GOO-ten tak | good day |
| guten Nachmittag | GOO-ten NAK-mit-TAK | good afternoon |
| gute Nacht | GOO-tuh nakt | good night |
Now you can feel confident in welcoming loved ones, old friends, and new acquaintances in German regardless of familiarity or time of day. Consider attending a session from Rosetta Stone tutoring if you’d like to practice these and other polite expressions in German.
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