Bayern slang / Bavarian flavour
Identity language for Bavaria and parts of Austria
Short answerIn Germany, say Servus! — Hi / bye (informal).
Standard German works everywhere. Bavarian is regional identity language — use it in Bayern and Austria.
Don't drop it in Hamburg and expect the same vibe. Outside the south you'll sound very regional.
Greetings / easy wins
- Servus!BairischHi / bye (informal).
- Grüß Gott!BayernGood day — the standard southern greeting, safe with anyone.
- Pfiat di! / Pfiat eich!BairischBye — singular / plural.
- Griaß di!BairischHello, to one person — warmer and more local than Servus.
- Griaß eich!BairischHello, to a group.
- Habedehre!BairischPleased to meet you — literally "I have the honour".
- Wiederschaun!BairischGoodbye — the southern version of auf Wiedersehen.
- Servus beinand!BairischHello everyone — greeting a whole table at once.
Bavaria flavour words
- feiBairischEmphasis particle — roughly "you know" / "mind you" / "really".
- Mei…BairischSighing interjection: "oh man…".
- Schmarrn!BairischNonsense! — literally a shredded pancake.
- Ned hudeln!BairischDon't rush! — a whole philosophy in two words.
- Schaug ma moi.BairischWe'll see — the Bavarian shrug.
- a bisserlBairischA little bit.
- deppertBairischDaft, silly — mild enough to say to a friend.
- a GrantlerBairischA professional grump — said with real affection.
A couple extra Bayern lines
- Passt scho.BairischIt's fine / all good.
- I mog di.BairischI like you — dialect-y.
- Mia san mia.BairischWe are who we are — Bavaria's unofficial motto.
- a BrotzeitBayernThe bread-and-cold-cuts meal — a fixed part of the day, not a snack.
- a SemmelBairischA bread roll — a Brötchen everywhere north of here.
- a HoibeBairischA half-litre of beer — the everyday order, not the tourist litre.
- a RadlerBayernBeer with lemonade — orderable anywhere in Bayern without comment.
- OachkatzlschwoafBairischSquirrel's tail — the pronunciation test a local will eventually set you.