How to Say Goodbye in German: 12 Steps

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

To say "Goodbye" in German you just need to know two phrases that are suitable for almost any circumstance: Auf Wiedersehen and Tschüss. But if you really want to impress native German speakers, you can learn other greetings too.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Standard Greetings

Step 1. Auf Wiedersehen is a formal expression traditionally used to say "Goodbye".

• You can listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link:

  Pronunciation

• Although it is the first expression taught in German courses, Auf Wiedersehen is a somewhat dated phrase, so in an informal context you will hardly hear it from a native speaker.
• Use it in professional or otherwise formal contexts, especially when talking to someone you know little about and want to show respect or admiration for.
• To make it slightly less formal, you could also shorten it by saying Wiedersehen.

Step 2. Use the word Tschüss

In informal contexts this is the most used word to say "Goodbye".

• You can listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link:

  Pronunciation

• In Italian the equivalent would be "Ciao" or "See you soon". Although it is considered an informal greeting, it is possible to use it with both friends and strangers, at least in most cases.

Part 2 of 3: Other Daily Greetings

Step 1. Use the expression Mach's gut in an informal context, when you know your interlocutor relatively well

• You can listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link:

  Pronunciation

• Literally it means "do well" (mach's is a conjugated form of the verb "to do" and gut means "well"). A less literal translation into Italian would be the following: "Be fine!".

Step 2. Use Bis bald or something similar

When greeting friends in a relatively informal setting, you can say Bis bald, which means "See you soon" or "See you soon".

• You can listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link:

  Pronunciation

• Bis is a conjunction meaning "to", while bald is an adverb meaning "soon", so it literally translates to "soon".

• There are other sentences with a similar structure and meaning:

  • Auf bald (pronounced), which means "see you soon".
  • Bis dann (pronunciation), which means "see you later".
  • Bis später (pronunciation), which means "until later".

  

  Step 3. You can also say hello by saying Wir sehen uns, which is a polite but informal expression for saying "see you" to friends and acquaintances

  • You can listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link:

    Pronunciation

  • If you're not sure when you'll see each other again, don't say anything else. If, on the other hand, you have agreed to see each other again, it would be better to add dann at the end of the sentence: Wir sehen uns dann, which means "see you later".

  

  Step 4. Wish someone a good day by saying Schönen Tag

  This phrase can generally be used with anyone: friends, family, acquaintances and strangers.

  • Listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link:

    Pronunciation

  • You may also hear the phrase Schönen Tag noch (pronunciation), which is the full version of the expression.
  • Similarly, if you want to wish a good weekend you can say Schönes Wochenende (pronunciation).

  Part 3 of 3: Options for Specific Situations

  

  Step 1. In Austria or Munich you can say Servus

  This is a very common informal expression for saying "hello", but mostly limited to Austria and Munich. This greeting is not common in the rest of Germany.

  • You can listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link:

    Pronunciation

  • Servus is another expression that can be translated as "hello" rather than "goodbye". It is polite enough, but is considered informal, so it is best to use it only with friends and family.
  • Remember that this is not the only way to say "goodbye" in Austria or Munich. You can however use Tschüss, Auf Wiedersehen and other German greetings in both countries.

  

  Step 2. Use Hades in Baden-Württemberg

  Just like Servus, this expression is also limited to one geographic region, specifically Baden-Württemberg, a federated state located in southwestern Germany.

  • You can listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link:

    Pronunciation

  • This term is actually more formal, so it can be translated as "goodbye" rather than "hello". You can use it in almost any context, but it is heard more often in a professional or otherwise formal setting rather than an informal one.
  • In Baden-Württemberg you can however use other greetings such as Auf Wiedersehen and Tschüss, you don't have to limit yourself to Ade only.

  

  Step 3. Conclude the evening by saying Gute Nacht, which means "goodnight"

  • You can listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link:

    Pronunciation

  • Gute means "good" and Nacht "night".
  • The adjective Gute is also found in other greetings, such as Gute Morgen ("good morning") and Gute Abend ("good evening"). However, contrary to these expressions, Gute Nacht is almost always used to separate at the end of the evening or just before going to sleep.

  

  Step 4. Use Bis zum nächsten Mal to greet someone you see regularly

  It means "See you next time".

  • You can listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link:

    Pronunciation

  • The word nächsten means "next", while Mal "time". Literally this phrase means "until the next time".
  • You can use it with anyone you see regularly, including co-workers, classmates, relatives or customers you often see in the coffee shop you hang out with.

  

  Step 5. End a telephone conversation by saying Wir sprechen uns bald or something similar

  When you are talking to someone on the phone, you can hang up the call in several ways. Wir sprechen uns bald is one of the most popular. It means "see you soon".

  • You can listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link:

    Pronunciation

  • Another suitable phrase would be Wir sprechen uns später, which means "See you later". You can listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link:

    Pronunciation

  

  Step 6. If someone is about to leave, wish them a good trip by saying:

  Gute Reise!.

  • You can listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link:

    Pronunciation

  • The term Gute means "good", while Reise means "trip", so literally the phrase means "good trip".