Settling Skills· 4 min
Etiquette and small talk
Greetings, 'Sie' vs 'du', punctuality and the social defaults that help you fit in quickly.
Formal vs informal
German has a formal 'Sie' and an informal 'du'. Default to 'Sie' with strangers, older people, officials and at work until you're invited to use 'du'. Getting this right signals respect.
Everyday etiquette
- Greet with a firm handshake and direct eye contact; say your surname.
- Be punctual — arriving late without notice is genuinely rude.
- Say 'Guten Tag' / 'Hallo' when entering small shops or waiting rooms, and 'Tschüss' when leaving.
- Recycle correctly and respect quiet hours — neighbours notice.
Good to know: Directness isn't coldness. A plain 'no' or honest feedback is normal and usually means exactly what it says — no hidden meaning to decode.