Greetings
Moien
MOY-en
Hello, in Luxembourgish. Used all day, and using it lands differently from 'bonjour' — it signals you have noticed the country has its own language.
Äddi
AD-dee
Goodbye in Luxembourgish. 'Au revoir' and 'Tschüss' are equally normal.
Social
Merci
MER-see
Thank you — the same in French and Luxembourgish. 'Merci villmools' is thank you very much.
Wann ech glift
van esh GLEEFT
Please, in Luxembourgish. 'S'il vous plaît' works everywhere too.
Prost / Gesondheet
prohst / guh-ZONT-hayt
Cheers. 'Gesondheet' is the Luxembourgish version and also what you say when someone sneezes.
Daily life
Déclaration d'arrivée
day-kla-ra-syon da-ree-VAY
The declaration of arrival at your commune — due within 3 days of arriving, and it is what gives you a lawful right of residence until your permit card arrives.
Autorisation de séjour
o-to-ree-za-syon duh say-JOOR
The temporary authorisation to stay — applied for and granted BEFORE you enter Luxembourg. The single most-missed step in the country.
Frontalier
fron-ta-LYAY
A cross-border commuter, living in France, Belgium or Germany and working here. Roughly half the workforce.
CNS
say-en-ESS
Caisse nationale de santé — the national health fund. You often pay the doctor and reclaim from the CNS afterwards.
Gemeng / commune
GUH-meng
Your municipality. It handles the declaration of arrival, waste, schools and a surprising amount else.
Food
Gromperekichelcher
GROM-per-uh-KEESH-el-sher
Deep-fried potato fritters, sold at every market and funfair. The national street food, and unimprovable.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.