How to Say Bye in German
How do you say bye in German? Say 'Tschüss' (chooss). Learn casual byes like 'Ciao' and 'Tschau,' regional farewells, and pronunciation of the tricky 'ü'.
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Quick answer
To say bye in German, say 'Tschüss' (pronounced 'chooss'), the everyday casual farewell. Friendlier variants include 'Tschüssi' (CHOO-see) and the Italian-borrowed 'Ciao' (chow). For 'see you soon,' say 'Bis bald' (bis bahlt). For formal goodbyes use 'Auf Wiedersehen.'
Tschüss
/chooss/ — German
How to Say Bye in German
For casual goodbyes, German leans on one cheerful word: Tschüss. It’s friendly, ubiquitous, and works almost anywhere informal. For the full formal farewell, see how to say goodbye in German, and to round out greetings learn how to say hi in German.
The Casual Bye: Tschüss
Tschüss — pronounced chooss — is the everyday German bye.
It’s informal but extremely widespread, used among friends, family, colleagues, and even in shops. Younger Germans use it constantly, and it has spawned affectionate variants like Tschüssi and the playful Tschüssikowski.
Copy the Phrase
The casual German way to say bye is Tschüss (chooss).
All the Casual Ways to Say Bye in German
| German | Pronunciation | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Tschüss | chooss | Everyday casual bye |
| Tschüssi | CHOO-see | Cute, friendly “byeee” |
| Tschüssikowski | choo-see-KOV-skee | Playful, joking bye |
| Ciao | chow | Casual, borrowed from Italian |
| Tschau | chow | German spelling of “ciao” |
| Bis bald | bis bahlt | ”See you soon” |
| Bis später | bis SHPAY-ter | ”See you later” |
| Bis dann | bis dahn | ”See you then” |
| Bis morgen | bis MOR-gen | ”See you tomorrow” |
| Mach’s gut | makhs goot | ”Take care” |
| Wir sehen uns | veer ZAY-en oons | ”We’ll see each other” |
| Servus | ZAIR-voos | Bavaria/Austria — hi and bye |
Formal vs. Informal
Tschüss sits firmly on the informal side — but it’s a relaxed informal that has crept into many semi-formal settings, so you’ll hear it in cafés, shops, and casual offices.
When you need a clearly formal goodbye — with officials, strangers in formal contexts, business meetings, or older people you don’t know — switch to Auf Wiedersehen (owf VEE-der-zayn), which pairs with the polite Sie form.
A safe rule: if you greeted someone with Hallo or Hi, ending with Tschüss fits. If you opened with Guten Tag, close with Auf Wiedersehen.
Regional Variations
- Servus (ZAIR-voos) — in Bavaria and Austria, works as both hi and bye.
- Ade (ah-DAY) — southwestern Germany (Swabia), an older regional bye.
- Tschö / Tschüssikowski — playful regional and casual stretches of Tschüss.
- Adieu (ah-DYUH) — Swiss German and the southwest.
- Pfiat di (FYAHT dee) — Bavarian/Austrian informal “take care.”
Pronunciation Tips
The hardest part of Tschüss is the ü. It’s a sound English doesn’t have: round your lips tightly as if to whistle or say “oo,” but then try to pronounce “ee.” The result is a tight, forward vowel. English speakers approximate it as “chooss” or “chuess” — close enough to be understood.
The tsch at the start is a single sound, identical to the “ch” in “church.” Don’t separate the letters.
Cultural Notes
Tschüss is the friendliest, most natural everyday goodbye in German, and using it instantly sounds more local than the textbook Auf Wiedersehen. The diminutive Tschüssi is warm and a touch cutesy — common among friends, especially in informal or affectionate exchanges. And don’t be surprised to hear Germans say Ciao: borrowing it from Italian, they use it as freely as their own Tschüss.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say bye in German?
The casual German bye is 'Tschüss,' pronounced 'chooss.' It's the everyday informal farewell used with friends, family and in relaxed settings. Cuter variants include 'Tschüssi' and 'Tschüssikowski,' and many Germans also say 'Ciao.'
How do you pronounce Tschüss?
It's pronounced 'chooss.' The 'tsch' is one sound, the 'ch' in 'church.' The 'ü' is a rounded vowel — round your lips as if to say 'oo' but try to say 'ee.' English speakers get close with 'chooss' or 'chuess.'
Is Tschüss formal or informal in German?
'Tschüss' is informal and casual — perfect for friends, family, classmates, and everyday situations, and increasingly used semi-formally too. For strictly formal partings (officials, strangers, business) use 'Auf Wiedersehen' (owf VEE-der-zayn) instead.
What is the difference between Tschüss and Ciao in German?
Both are casual byes. 'Tschüss' (chooss) is the native German bye; 'Ciao' (chow), borrowed from Italian and sometimes spelled 'Tschau,' is also extremely common among Germans, especially younger people. They're interchangeable in informal settings.
What is a casual way to say see you later in German?
Casual 'see you' phrases include 'Bis bald' (bis bahlt, see you soon), 'Bis später' (bis SHPAY-ter, see you later), 'Bis dann' (bis dahn, see you then), and 'Bis morgen' (bis MOR-gen, see you tomorrow). Among friends you'll also hear 'Wir sehen uns' (we'll see each other).