Saying goodbye in German is just as important as saying hello. After all, goodbyes are like Thanos: is inevitable. After starting the conversation with a proper greeting, you also need to end it with style. So if you’re ready to say goodbye to your German friends but don’t know how to say it, you’ve come to the right place.
Here are 15 different ways to say goodbye in German – from the famous Auf Wiedersehen to different variations of “see you later.” All of them will come in handy soon if you want to learn German and speak it like a native.
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1. Auf Wiedersehen – ‘Goodbye’ in German
Auf Wiedersehen is the most common way to say goodbye in German. It’s a standard, neutral expression, so it’s safe to use in any formal social setting or whenever you think you shouldn’t use a regular goodbye. While Germans use it to say “goodbye,” it literally translates to “see you later.” Similarly, Auf Wiederhören can be used at the end of a conversation taking place on the phone. It means “until we hear from each other again.”
2.Tschüss – “Goodbye” in German
Tschüss is the most common affectionate farewell in German. It’s short, sweet and casual and you’ll often hear it used between friends and family. Contrary to popular belief, Germans love cute words so much that they also say Tschüss Tschüss, which means “goodbye” or Tschüssi, which literally means “goodbye for a bit”.
3. Schönen Tag (noch) – ‘Have a good day’
Now that you know the most common ways to say goodbye in German, it’s time to move on to some variations. These are perfect for those times when you want to switch from “goodbye” to “see you later” or “have a nice day.” One of these variations is Schönen Card, which can be used with or without the notch. It’s a friendly way to wish someone a good day! Similarly, you would say Schönes Wochenende to wish someone a nice weekend.
4. Einen schönen Tag noch – “Have a nice day”
A more polite version of Schönen Tag noch is Einen schönen Tag noch. It means the same thing, but this expression is used by people who want to be more formal and respectful.
5. Ciao – “Goodbye”
Like the rest of Europe, Germans borrowed Ciao from the Italians. It is a nice, friendly, and international way to say goodbye to a friend. Equally elegant, though less common, is the French Adieu or Ade.
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6. Man sieht sich – “See you soon”
When you have not scheduled your next meeting or get-together and you are not sure when you will see the other person again, you can simply say Man sieht sich, which means “see you soon”.
7. Bis heo – “See you soon” in German
However, it is much more common to say goodbye by saying Bis heo, which means “see you soon” in German. For the next three goodbyes, it will be helpful to know that bis is the German equivalent of “until.”
8. Bis später – ‘See you later’
If you want to get more creative with your goodbyes in German, Bis später is another great alternative to the standard goodbye. Alternatively, you can also say Bis dann, which conveys the same “see you later” message in a slightly different way. If you meant “see you tomorrow,” you guessed it! You would say Bis morgen.
9. Bis Montag – “Until Monday”
It’s not uncommon to use bis in conjunction with days of the week in German.
Bis Montag – “Until Monday”
Bis Dienstag – “Until Tuesday”
Bis Mittwoch – “Until Wednesday”
Bis Donnerstag – “Until Thursday”
Bis Freitag – “Until Friday”
Bis Samstag – “Until Saturday”
Bis Sonntag – “Until Sunday”
10. Gute Nacht – “Good Night” in German
Of course, Gute Nacht (“good night”) is another great way to say goodbye if you’re getting ready for bed. While we use Guten Morgen (“hello”) as a greeting, Guten Nacht only functions as a goodbye.
11. Bis zum nächsten Mal – ‘See you next time’
If you want to say goodbye to someone you see often, such as a co-worker or classmate, Until Next Time is the most appropriate choice.
12. Wir sehen uns dann – “See you later”
Wir sehen uns is another nice way to say “see you later” if you have plans with someone. Add dann to it and it will mean something like “see you later”.
13. Viel Spaß – “Have fun” in German
If the other person is going to a party or similar activity, you can say Viel Spaß, which means “enjoy” or “have fun”.
14. Mach’s Belly – “Take care”
For those of a more caring nature, Mach’s Belly is the perfect way to end a conversation. Of course, it’s an intimate way of saying goodbye and is only reserved for people with whom we have a special relationship.
15. Lebewohl – “Goodbye”
Finally, if you want to be dramatic or funny, you can always say Lebewohl, which literally means “live well,” but is often translated as “goodbye.” From now on, whichever way you choose, you will be able to say goodbye in German with complete confidence.
Formal greeting tips:
- When greeting formally, use “Sie” instead of “du”.
For example: “Wie geht es Ihnen?” » (How are you?– formal) vs. “Wie geht’s dir?” » (How are you? – informal).
- Always say “Guten Tag” when entering a shop or restaurant, even if you are just walking around. This is considered polite and respectful.
- When leaving a shop or a friend’s house, say “Auf Wiedersehen” or “Tschüss”!
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Speed up your German learning
Learning a language usually takes time and you need to be patient with yourself. Using Entri App can speed up your language learning process and help you reach your goals faster than you think. But remember that there is no standard way to learn German, as everyone is different and learns differently. So try to find a learning method that works for you. Pronunciation is always a problem when learning German, so make sure to watch lots of YouTube videos to get used to the German language. Download German songs with lyrics and listen to them regularly.
Carry a personal dictionary with you and write down all the German words that come to mind that you want to learn. Remember that there are many people learning German, so try to connect with them and share your language skills. This is a great opportunity to practice and measure your progress as well as make new friends. Make it fun. Everyone knows that your brain remembers and synthesizes information better when you are having fun, so try to entertain yourself.
If you are moving to Germany to study, you may want to learn some basic language skills that will help you when you arrive, even if you study in English. Even though many Germans speak English, don’t assume that everyone you meet speaks the same language as you. Try to learn at least a few basic phrases that you can use in everyday life. At least try to speak German when you meet new Germans! Learning a new language can be difficult, but if you’re willing to put in the time and effort, you’ll have no problem!
