[German] saying thankyou and goodbye

Language Corner
21
And try not to confuse Selbstbedienung with Selbstbefriedigung .

22
I'm by all means not an expert, but I'll try to answer.

Most likely it's "schönen Abend" (good evening, both high german and swiss german, though pronounced differently).

There's also a less frequent swiss-german farewell greeting: "en schoenen" which I figure means something to the extent of "all the best".

23
I haven't googled but I think that means you arse?!

I did google that one haha

24
Eh, I took my first German classes from an American, what can I say. We were taught that Bitte is informal and Bitteschön is formal.

25
One thing that my 74 year old Swiss neighbour taught me was saying "Greuzi Vol" instead of only "Greuzi" while addressing an elder. She told me it showed more respect towards the person.

Just like using "Sie" instead of "Du"...

Don't forget the power of Definitely helped me when I was in doubt.

26
That must be "grüezi wohl"

27
Difference between German and Swiss German.

28
My husband has started greeting people with a hearty "Tagwohl" if we're out walking. He reckons he's been saying it forever but I think he's just turning into an old fart.

I even thought he was making it up just to confuse me.

29
Hello formal

-Grüezi (Hello)

-Guete Morge / Tag / Abe (Good morning/day/night)

shortened up: leave away the 'Guete' - and simply greet with Morge/Tag/Abig

if used for a group (like you enter a meeting): you add mitenand (to adress all in the room)

Hello informal

-Tschau (Ciao)

-Sali / Salü

-Hoi

if used for a group you add: zäme (dont switch 'zäme' and 'mitenand', its not a bad mistake which will make you rude, but sounds very strange)

Bye Bye formal

-Adiö / Adee (Bye)

-Uf Wiederluege (see you later)

-Schöne Tag/Abig no (have a nice day / evening)

-Tschüss (when talking to a german)

Bye Bye informal

-Tschüss (bye)

-Tschau (bye)

-Machs guet (have a good one)

-En schöne (informal have a nice day / evening)

Please

-Bitte (+schön) again optional

Thank you

-Merci (shortened up you can also say Messi <- jap exactly like the football player)

-Danke (+schön) optional

-Viele/Beste/Herzlichste Dank (thanks a lot) - when there is really something to thank somebody (like after receiving gift or similar)

You are welcome

-Bitte (you are welcome)

-Gern gscheh (no worries, i like to help)

-Kei sach/ Kei problem (no problem)

-Scho rächt (if you help someone out, but you actually did not like it. Like saving somebody by letting him copy your homework) - it basically means: it's ok.

Excuse me

Entschuldigung

Excüüsee

Sorry (hard R)

followed often by a question

30
Nice list, many thanks, but as a native speaker, I can't see a problem with switching zäme and mitenand . Salü zämme makes you sound a bit more like a Zürcher, but that doesn't necessarily sound strange.

Mach's guet is just what "Take care" is in our circles in the Midwest. Of course it implicitely includes "a good one" too, but it is mainly aimed at faring well and taking care of oneself.

31
The Swiss do like to use the diminutive a lot. Basically anything with a "li" on the end qualifies.

32
Thats what I wrote?

'Salü zäme' is perfectly right.

But 'Salü mitenand' is awkward.

same goes with

Grüezi Mitenand (correct)

Grüezi Zäme (awkward again)

I agree "Take care" is the better translation for it. Havent thought about it.

33
May be true where you live, but I grew up with " Sali mitenand ". " Salü zäme " was very outlandish.

Here I couldn't agree more. Zäme is more informal and can only be combined with informal greetings like ciao, tschüss, salü, hoi etc..