Veranstaltungsorte - IN München - Das Stadtmagazin (2024)

FAQs

What does the mayor of Munich say at Oktoberfest? ›

O'zapft is!

This phrase is what the mayor of Munich shouts out every year to mark the start of Oktoberfest – and of course that is after he has successfully hammered a tap into the very first keg of beer.

There are also many other greetings in German such as the normal “Hallo” (Hello) and “Tschüss” (Goodbye), but they are much more widely used across Germany than “Grüß Gott” and “Servus” as well as being less age or situation specific.

"Frohe Oktoberfest!"

While people in Germany probably don't say Happy Oktoberfest to each other to the same amount that we do, but this is how you wish another fest-goer a happy oktoberfest.

An important one to note is “Prost! ', your German version of “Cheers!”, which you can use in all types of situations.

In general, it is best to stick with a formal greeting like “Guten Tag” when talking to a professional acquaintance, whereas with friends you can use informal greetings like “Na?” or “Hallo!”.

Can you simply say 'dir auch'? Yes, or just repeat the phrase used.

It falls upon the Mayor of Munich to open Oktoberfest by tapping a beer keg and shouting “O'ZAPFT IS'!”, thus officially starting the festivities. It literally means “It's tapped!”

Oans, zwoa, g'suffa!

You probably know that the German word for “cheers” is “prost!”, but as Oktoberfest is more of a Bavarian thing, you should also learn how to clink your glasses with a Bavarian drinking cry. “Oans, zwoa, g'suffa!” is the Bavarian dialect for “eins, zwei, getrunken!”, meaning “one, two, drunk!”.

O'zapft is!: (Ō-tsapft is) literally means “It's tapped!”. This is the opening cheer when the first keg is tapped, kicking off Oktoberfest.

What do they chant at Oktoberfest? ›

Usually every 20 minutes they initiate a quick break – which is obviously created for drinking beer– by playing the well-known song “Ein Prosit”. After this short song is finished, everyone raises their huge glasses with the words: “Oans, zwoa, drei, Gsuffa!” meaning “one, two, three, drink!”.