moien / äddi
Hello and Goodbye: Moien and Äddi
Moien means hello and Äddi means goodbye. Both work with friends and strangers alike.
How It Works
Hello
- Moien! – hello, at any time of day, to anyone.
- Gudde Moien! – good morning.
- Gudde Mëtteg! – good afternoon.
- Gudden Owend! – good evening.
- Salut! – hi, among friends. It can also mean bye.
Goodbye
- Äddi! – goodbye. Awar! is used in the same way.
- Bis muer! (See you tomorrow!), Bis herno! (See you later!), Bis geschwënn! (See you soon!)
- Gutt Nuecht! – good night, when someone goes to bed or you part late at night.
The n-rule in greetings
The n-rule drops the final n of gudden before most consonants: gudde Moien, gudde Mëtteg. Before a vowel the n stays: gudden Owend. The same happens in Äddi a bis muer, where an (and) becomes a before the b.
Greeting someone by name
Names usually take an article (de Paul/d'Anna), but not when you speak to the person directly: Moien, Anna!
Saying hello and goodbye as actions
To talk about greeting, use the words as nouns with a capital letter: Moien soen (to say hello, written Moie soen by the n-rule) and Äddi soen (to say goodbye).
Examples (6)
- Moien! Wéi geet et?
Hi! How are you?
Word by Word: Hello! How goes it?
- Gudde Moien, Madamm!
Good morning, madam!
Word by Word: Good morning, madam!
Gudden loses its n before the M of Moien.
- Gudden Owend, wéi geet et Iech?
Good evening, how are you?
Word by Word: Good evening, how goes it to-you?
Gudden keeps its n before the vowel O. Iech is the polite you.
- Äddi a bis muer!
Bye, see you tomorrow!
Word by Word: Bye and until tomorrow!
An (and) becomes a before the b of bis.
- Moien, Anna!
Hi, Anna!
Word by Word: Hello, Anna!
No article before the name when you speak to the person directly.
- Mir mussen elo Äddi soen.
We have to say goodbye now.
Word by Word: We must now goodbye say.
Used as a noun, Äddi is capitalized.
Common Mistakes
Keeping the n of gudden before a consonant.
Gudden Moien!Gudde Moien!By the n-rule the final n drops before M. It stays only before a vowel, before d, h, n, t or z, and at the end of a phrase.
Dropping the n of gudden before a vowel.
Gudde Owend!Gudden Owend!Owend starts with a vowel, so gudden keeps its n.
Using an article when greeting someone by name.
Moien, d'Anna!Moien, Anna!Names take an article when you talk about someone (D'Anna kënnt), but not when you speak to the person directly.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- Wéi geet et?How Are You? Wéi Geet Et?
A greeting is usually followed by Wéi geet et?
Level 1 - merci / wannechgeliftThank You and Please
Merci and wannechgelift are the other basic polite words.
Level 1 - The N-Rule (Eifeler Regel)
The n-rule explains gudde Moien but gudden Owend.
Level 1 - de Paul / d'AnnaArticles with Names
Names take an article in sentences but not in a greeting.
Level 1 - haut / muer / gëschterToday, Tomorrow, Yesterday
Muer appears in the goodbye Bis muer!
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice moien / äddi in Bubblegum
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