When you want to be a little more specific than just saying “have a good day” in German, then it might be the right time of day to say “good evening” in German. Since every day has an evening, you’re sure to use these phrases daily, making it well worth your time to know all the ways you can wish someone a good evening based on the context of the situation.
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4 formal ways to say ‘good evening’ in German
Although more time-specific than knowing how to say “hello” in German, “good evening” is an easy way to come across as professional and friendly when you near the end of the work day or afternoon. Consider using the following German phrases when you want to wish a good evening to a work associate, someone older than yourself, or an adult whom you don’t know well enough to call “friend” just yet.
Ich wünsche Ihnen einen schönen Abend
If you’re closing out a meeting with a new business client and want a professional-sounding way to tell them “good evening,” then Ich wünsche Ihnen einen schönen Abend (I wish you a pleasant evening) is a solid choice. This phrase can be used to address either one person or a group of people since the capitalized Ihnen is a formal way to say “you” or “you all.”
Schönen Feierabend!
The saying Schönen Feierabend! (Have a nice end to the day!) is closer to the casual side. However, it’s still a great way to tell a colleague or coworker with whom you’re acquainted to enjoy the evening off of work without crossing the boundary into being unprofessional.
Einen schönen Abend noch!
Einen schönen Abend noch! (Have a pleasant evening!) is a wonderfully neutral statement you can use in formal environments without too much worry about the context of the situation. It’s a straightforward and kind way to say “good evening” in German.
Ich hoffe, Sie haben einen wunderbaren Abend
The phrase Ich hoffe, Sie haben einen wunderbaren Abend (I hope you have a wonderful evening) shows more enthusiasm and friendliness. You can use this phrase in very professional environments when you want to come across as more engaging and appreciative of your associates’ time. Since such a phrase can be seen as excessively friendly in Germany’s more serious culture, take care to only use this in professional environments with high levels of energy and connectivity.
3 phrases to casually say ‘good evening’ in German
Wish a good evening to your German friends, family, and those younger than yourself with these four casual and friendly ways to say “good evening” in German. These phrases are great to use when it’s too late in the day to say “good morning” in German or “good afternoon” in German.
Genieß deinen Abend!
Made especially informal by the use of deinen (your, informal), the casual phrase Genieß deinen Abend! (Enjoy your evening!) can be used as a kind send-off to a friend after spending a nice day with them at a German beer garden. The word deinen only works when speaking to one person, but if there’s a group of friends you could say Genießt den Abend, ihr alle! (Enjoy the evening, everyone!) instead.
Hab einen chilligen Abend!
Hab einen chilligen Abend means “have a chill evening” in German. It’s an informal way to wish a good friend a nice evening or a cool phrase to use in casual settings like a bar or group hangout. In this case, chilligen (chill) is used in German in the same way it’s used colloquially in English to mean “relaxing” rather than “cold.”
Lass es krachen heute Abend!
When the situation calls for a bit more hype, like when you know your buddy is going to an especially rowdy party that evening, you can say Lass es krachen heute Abend! meaning “Let it rip this evening!” As an energy-filled slang phrase, this is a hip and enthusiastic way to meet an equally excited mood with an appropriate wish for a legendary evening.
Regional variations for saying ‘good evening’
Did you know there are up to 20 different groupings for German dialects alone? Don’t be caught off guard when you travel around Germany or other German-speaking countries and hear regional variations for saying “good evening” in German shown below:
| German Phrase | English Translation | Region |
| Schönen Owend! | Good evening! | Switzerland |
| Viel Gaudi heute Abend! | Have a very fun evening! | Southern Germany |
| A Guad’n Obnd! | A good evening! | Bavaria |
| Nabend! | Evening! | Northern German |
Familiarizing yourself with simple and practical phrases like “good evening” in German is an easy and realistic way to start learning German. If you prefer this practical approach to language learning, Rosetta Stone live lessons lets you get real-time instructions from a native German speaker who covers real-world topics to use in daily German conversation.
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