"GrÃ¼zi" or "Hoi"? "Sie" or "Du"?Formal or Informal in Switzerland?

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Bix

If you have never met them before you should say "GrÃ¼ezi mitenand!". If they are relatives (even if you don't know them) "Hallo mitenand!" would be better. "GrÃ¼ezi!" would be too formal in such a case.

You can say "hallo" in Swiss German and use the "Sie" form without being unpolite, especially when you are over 35 and attend a party with people you don't know. However, you usually say "hallo" to a person who is "per du" with you.

"Hoi!" is definitely to be used if you talk to people that you know very well. You use it with family members and friends. Even if you are a teenager you don't say "Hoi!" to another teenager that you don't know yet. In such a case you would use "Du!" but a "Hallo!". I'm sure that not all the native speakers would agree with that but in my opinion you can't approach a group of people who are complete strangers and say "Hoi zÃ¤mme!".

Selschen

Hey!

So, where exactly will you stay? Cuz I'm from Switzerland!:)
I also mad an exchange year in the U.S last year!

First of all, there is no difference between "Hallo, Hoi and GrÃ¼ezi". They are all used to say hello to friends, and none of them is formal. Usually, when u say hello to a person u don't really know, then u say "GrÃ¼essech". "GrÃ¼essech is the most formal word of them"
So I think I would use "Hallo" to greet ur new "host-family"
Cuz "GrÃ¼ezi" is a word that it's not really used anymore that much....at least I would never use it (It's more for the older generation). And "Hoi" is a word that u just say to friends....in the meaning of "Ohh, hey, it's you".

I would also use "du" and "dir" and not "Sie" and "Ihnen". I mean maybe u don't really know them now, but they will be ur family for a year, so you'll have a close relationship to them. And "Sie" and "Ihnen" is just used for teachers or people u just don't know.

Short summary: I would go for informal: Use "Hallo", "du", "dir"

I hope I could help you!!

sigmaxyquatz

It goes like this (when meeting the parents):

You'll say: "Hallo" and adding: "Freut mi, Euch kenne 'zlerne"

They'll greet you back and then offer you the informal "Du" by saying "I'm Peter" instead of "I'm Mr. Peterson"

You'll continue with "Du" -> solved

"Hallo" is neither formal nor informal while "euch" can be both. So you leave the topic open for for the older Generation to solve.
A "GrÃ¼ezi" and "sie" would be too submissive, while a "Hoi" and "du" sounds disrespectful. Considering your coming from the states, they surely wouldn't mind either way but this is what a german native would say.

For your peers, you start with "Du" right away.

Matt

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