Short answer: "hello" in German is Hallo, or Guten Tag depending on the situation.
Hallo, the core translation
The default way to say "hello" in German is Hallo. Pronounced roughly HAH-loh.
When German speakers actually use it
Hallo is everyday; Guten Tag for shops, offices, older people.
Alternative: Guten Tag
Guten Tag is the other option German speakers reach for in this situation. It's not a synonym so much as a register shift, use the one that matches who you're talking to.
Practice this in a real German conversation
Reading a phrase and saying it out loud are two different skills. Skala's AI conversations let you drop "Hallo" into a real German exchange in your first 3-minute lesson, so it sticks the first time.
Start learning German today
Skala is free on iOS and Android. One 3-minute German lesson gets you your first 0.1%. Show up daily and the % climbs. That's the whole method.
FAQ
What's the most polite way to say "hello" in German?
Both Hallo and Guten Tag are polite. Pick based on who you're talking to: register, not translation, is what natives are tuning into.
How do I pronounce Hallo?
Roughly HAH-loh. Recording yourself once and comparing to a native audio inside Skala closes the gap faster than reading pronunciation guides.