Greetings in Germany You Didn’t Learn in School

Ever greeted someone in Germany and got that look — the one that says, “You just broke a rule you didn’t even know existed”? Yeah, same here. In this episode of Hear My True Story, we’re diving into the world of German greetings — from the ultra-formal “Herr Doktor Schmidt” handshake to the laid-back “Moin” in Hamburg. Whether you’re heading to a job interview in Berlin, meeting your partner’s family in Bavaria, or just want to avoid embarrassing greeting faux pas, this episode is your crash course in doing it right. We’ll explore why greetings matter so much in German culture, how to tell when it’s okay to “duzen” someone, what to do (and definitely not do) in business settings, and how regional quirks can totally change the vibe. Plus: funny personal stories, cultural insights, and a reminder that even if you mess it up, you’re still learning — and that’s what counts.