1 - Welcome
Imagine you're in Berlin, walking past the Brandenburg Gate, and a friend spots you from across the street. What do you say to greet them in German? Today, you'll discover how to say hello like a true Berliner!
- Learn key German greetings for friends and adults.
- Explore formal and informal ways to say hello and ask how someone is.
- Practice with interactive word tables, flashcards, and matching games.
- Test your skills with worksheets and class discussion.
By the end of this lesson: You'll confidently greet anyone in German, knowing when to use formal or informal language.
2 - German Greetings
This word table lays out the vocabulary clearly, side by side in English and German, so you can see everything at a glance.
Take a moment to explore the table and tap on any German word to hear its pronunciation—perfect for getting comfortable with how they sound. It's your go-to spot for quick checks and confident practice as you dive deeper into conversations.
How to Use This Activity:
Option 1: Students on Devices
- Students complete the Word Table activity on their own laptop or tablet.
- A vocabulary reference table with pronunciation. Students can click to hear words spoken.
- Walk around the room to monitor progress and assist students who need help.
Option 2: Teacher-Led (Whiteboard/Projector)
- Display the activity on your interactive whiteboard or projector.
- Go through the table together, practising pronunciation as a class. Have students repeat after the audio.
- Invite students up to interact with the board, or have them call out answers from their desks.
3 - Formal and Informal Greetings
In German, how you greet someone depends on who they are and how well you know them. There are two main types: formal greetings for adults, teachers, or people you don't know well, and informal greetings for friends and people your age.
Formal Greetings:
- Guten Morgen - Good morning / Good day (use this most of the time for formal situations).
- Guten Abend - Good evening (use after about 5pm).
- Wie geht es Ihnen? - How are you? (formal way).
- Wie heißen Sie? - What's your name? (formal).
Informal Greetings:
- Hallo - Hi / Bye (like 'hi' to friends).
- Wie geht es dir? - How's it going? (casual way to ask how someone is).
- Wie heißt du? - What's your name? (informal).
4 - Tips
💡 Top Tips
- Listen carefully to Hallo – pronounce it 'hah-lo', with a clear 'h' sound.
- Practice Guten Morgen – say 'goo-ten mor-gen', rolling the 'r' slightly.
- For Wie geht es dir? , pronounce it 'vee gayt es deer', with a soft 'g' like in 'go'.
- Repeat each word after the audio several times to match the rhythm and intonation.
- Record yourself saying the greetings and compare to the audio to improve your pronunciation.
5 - Flip and Learn
It's time to build your German vocabulary hands-on. These interactive flashcards let you flip through key phrases at your own pace, revealing English translations and hearing the correct pronunciation with each turn.
Get ready to test your memory and boost your confidence in speaking German—flip a card and see what you discover!
How to Use This Activity:
Option 1: Students on Devices
- Students complete the Flashcards activity on their own laptop or tablet.
- Great for self-paced vocabulary drilling. Students can flip cards and repeat until confident.
- Walk around the room to monitor progress and assist students who need help.
Option 2: Teacher-Led (Whiteboard/Projector)
- Display the activity on your interactive whiteboard or projector.
- Click to flip cards and have the class say the word together. Use choral repetition for pronunciation practice.
- Invite students up to interact with the board, or have them call out answers from their desks.
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