Servus

Servus is a traditional, friendly greeting in large parts of Central Europe. He is from Saarland, Rhineland -Palatinate, Baden- Württemberg, Bavaria, South and Central Hesse, South and East Thuringia, Franconia and in Austria and South Tyrol (also " Servas " ) to Slovenia, Croatia ( " Hello" or " Serbus " ), Hungary ( " Szervusz " / " Szervusztok ", " Szia " / " Sziasztok " ), Slovakia ( " Hello" ), Northwest Romania and Transylvania ( " Hello" ) are common. He comes from the Latin ( servus, lat: " the slave," " servant " ), meaning in short form " I am your servant " or " services ".

Servus can be used as a greeting for adoption.

" Hello" is mainly among friends and close acquaintances, the first-name terms, common even among members of social elites, such as it was among the nobles Old Austria, Bohemia and Bavaria in use. Therefore, in the literature, it often happens.

In many areas of southern Germany and Austria as well as in South Tyrol is " Hello" one of the most common greeting words used by young people.

Comments

• Including putting his Servus means sign a letter.
• "Well servus " is in large parts of Central Bavarian language area (pronounced " Na seawas ") is used as an exclamation of astonishment.
• Sas / Seas / Seasn / Seawas / Seawis / lake / Sers / Sersn / Servas / Sewes / Sneas / Zea / Zervas / Zia / Ziwas are numerous short forms and pronunciation variations, partly in Austria, Bavaria and Baden, Swabia and the Palatinate are common.
• In Hungarian, there is both a singular form, which is aimed at a ( n ) addressee ( s) ( " Szervusz " short form " Szia " ), as well as a plural form of two or more persons ( " Szervusztok ", " Sziasztok ").

Equivalents:

• Also from Italian, but of Schiavo, slave, comes ciao ciao or.
• In itzgründischen dialect region ( Sonneberg ) is the German equivalent servant! be used.
• In Swedish derives from " Tjena " from " tjänare " ( servant).