Redewendungen des Alltags

A few words of Luxembourgish go a long way in a country where most people switch to French, German or English for you. Greeting a shop assistant or a neighbour with Moien is noticed and appreciated.

Luxembourgish	English	When to use it
Moien!	Hello!	at any time of day, to anyone
Gudde Moien!	Good morning!	in the morning, a little more formal
Gudden Owend!	Good evening!	in the evening
Äddi!	Goodbye!	leaving, to anyone
Bis geschwënn!	See you soon!	friends, colleagues
Wéi geet et?	How are you?	a real question, expect an answer
Merci! / Merci villmools!	Thank you! / Thank you very much!	everywhere
Wannechgelift.	Please. / Here you are.	to anyone, du or Dir
Entschëllegt!	Excuse me! / Sorry!	getting attention, apologising
Ech verstinn net.	I don't understand.
Schwätzt Dir Englesch?	Do you speak English?	polite form
Dat geet.	That's fine. / It's OK.	also the answer to "How are you?": so-so
Kee Problem!	No problem!

Notes for English speakers

• Moien is not "morning". It is the all-day hello, said at nine in the morning and at nine at night.
• Wéi geet et? is not a formula like "How are you?" in English. The usual answers are Gutt, merci, an dir? - Fine, thanks, and you? or an honest Dat geet - So-so.
• Merci comes from French, and Luxembourgish uses it as its everyday "thank you". Merci villmools means "thanks many times".
• Wannechgelift is also what a waiter says when handing you something, like "Here you are".

Introducing yourself

Moien, ech heesche Sarah. Ech kommen aus England an ech wunnen zu Bartreng. - Hello, my name is Sarah. I'm from England and I live in Bertrange.