20 Luxembourgish expressions every newcomer hears (and what they mean)
You will hear them in the bakery, on the bus and at the office before you understand a single sentence: moien, äddi, gell, allez hopp. Twenty everyday Luxembourgish expressions, with when to use them and a native recording of each.
Updated · 3 min read
These are the small words that make Luxembourgish sound like Luxembourgish — many borrowed from French, all said in a Luxembourgish way. For full greetings with their grammar, see Luxembourgish greetings and everyday phrases; for single phrases with our own recordings, the pages for hello, goodbye and please.
Hello and goodbye
Moien, wéi geet et?
Literally: Hello, how are you?
Meaning: Moien works from morning to evening — it is the everyday hello. More on how are you.
Moien, Madamm, wat kann ech fir Iech maachen?
Literally: Hello, madam, what can I do for you?
Meaning: What you will hear in shops — note the polite Iech (you, formal).
Äddi a schéine Weekend!
Literally: Bye and have a nice weekend!
Meaning: The Friday goodbye at work. Äddi comes from French adieu but just means bye.
Bis geschwënn!
Literally: See you soon!
Meaning: Geschwënn means soon.
Äddi, bis eng aner Kéier!
Literally: Bye, until another time!
Meaning: See you some other time.
Please, thank you and sorry
Villmools merci!
Literally: Many times thank you!
Meaning: Thank you very much — Luxembourgish uses the French merci. See how to say thank you.
Wéi vill Auer ass et, wannechgelift?
Literally: What time is it, please?
Meaning: Wannechgelift (if it pleases me) is please; written as one word in LOD.
Pardon, ass dee Stull nach fräi?
Literally: Excuse me, is this chair still free?
Meaning: Pardon is excuse me and sorry. See excuse me.
Gesondheet!
Literally: Health!
Meaning: What you say when someone sneezes.
At the table
(ech wënschen iech en) gudden Appetit!
Literally: (I wish you a) good appetite!
Meaning: Enjoy your meal — the short form is just gudden Appetit.
Prost, loosst Iech de Patt gutt schmaachen!
Literally: Cheers, enjoy your drink!
Meaning: The toast. See how to say cheers.
Little words that carry a conversation
Gell, du kënns den Owend!
Literally: You’re coming tonight, aren’t you!
Meaning: Gell is the tag question — isn’t it? won’t you? It is everywhere.
Dee leschte Kilometer packe mer och nach, allez hopp!
Literally: We’ll manage the last kilometre too, come on!
Meaning: Allez hopp — come on, let’s go! French allez plus Luxembourgish hopp.
Hopp hopp, soss verpasse mer den Zuch!
Literally: Quick, quick, or we’ll miss the train!
Meaning: Hopp hurries people up.
Opinions and reactions
Ech fannen et schued, datt d’Party ofgesot ass
Literally: I think it’s a pity the party has been cancelled.
Meaning: Schued — what a pity.
Dat ass net mäi Problem!
Literally: That’s not my problem!
Meaning: Same in English — a bit blunt.
Du bass mir egal!
Literally: You are indifferent to me!
Meaning: Egal means “all the same” — et ass mir egal: I don’t mind. Said to a person, it is cold.
De Lëtzebuerger Nationalfeierdag gëtt den 23. Juni gefeiert
Literally: Luxembourg’s National Day is celebrated on 23 June.
Meaning: Not an expression, but a date every newcomer learns quickly — see Luxembourg’s traditions and their words.
Getting the culture right
- Greet when you enter. A moien when you walk into a small shop, a waiting room or a lift is normal — and an äddi when you leave.
- Dir or du? Use Dir with people you do not know, and wait to be offered du. See du and Dir in Luxembourgish.
- Mixing languages is normal. Merci, pardon and allez are French words in Luxembourgish sentences; nobody will think you are making a mistake. Read which language to learn in Luxembourg.
- Try Luxembourgish first. Even one moien is noticed and appreciated — see is Luxembourgish worth learning?.
Want the next step? Sayings and idioms are in 30 everyday idioms and 16 proverbs everyone knows. Questions are in how to ask questions, and the verbs above have tables: fannen, kommen, wënschen, maachen.
Knowing the words is the start; using them without thinking takes conversation. On Edluxio you can book 1-to-1 online lessons with independent teachers — native speakers among them — and practise everyday Luxembourgish out loud. Book a trial lesson; if your first lesson isn’t right for you, you get a full refund.
Start speaking Luxembourgish
16Word teaches the words and sentences of everyday Luxembourgish with native audio — 16 at a time, with a Blocks break between answers.
Keep learning
- Luxembourgish greetings and everyday phrases
- Shopping and eating out
- At the doctor and the pharmacy
- Luxembourg’s traditions and their words
- Luxembourgish on the bus and the train
- Good evening · nice to meet you · you’re welcome
- Yes and no · numbers
- How to say hello · thank you · how are you
- Cheers in Luxembourgish · good luck
- How to learn Luxembourgish online
- Is Luxembourgish hard to learn?
- Every Luxembourgish verb table, with audio
- All free Luxembourgish resources
- Free Luxembourgish level test
Frequently asked questions
What does “moien” mean?
Hello — and good morning, and good afternoon. Luxembourgers use it at any time of day; in the evening you may also hear “gudden Owend”.
How do you say goodbye in Luxembourgish?
Äddi. With a wish: “äddi a schéine Weekend!” — bye and have a nice weekend. Or “bis geschwënn!” — see you soon.
What does “gell” mean in Luxembourgish?
It turns a sentence into a question asking for agreement, like “isn’t it?” or “right?”: Gell, du kënns den Owend? — you’re coming tonight, right?
How do you say please in Luxembourgish?
Wannechgelift — written as one word in the official dictionary.
What do Luxembourgers say when someone sneezes?
Gesondheet! — health!
Is it rude to mix French words into Luxembourgish?
No — merci, pardon and allez are normal parts of Luxembourgish.
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