How to Say Goodbye in German
How do you say goodbye in German? Say 'Auf Wiedersehen' (owf VEE-der-zayn) formally or 'Tschüss' (chooss) casually. Pronunciation guide and regional farewells.
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Quick answer
To say goodbye in German formally, say 'Auf Wiedersehen' (owf VEE-der-zayn), literally 'until we see each other again.' For casual goodbyes, say 'Tschüss' (chooss). On the phone, the formal farewell is 'Auf Wiederhören' (owf VEE-der-hur-en), 'until we hear each other again.'
Auf Wiedersehen
/owf VEE-der-zayn/ — German
How to Say Goodbye in German
German has a wonderfully literal formal goodbye — Auf Wiedersehen, “until we see each other again” — and a quick, friendly casual one, Tschüss. Choosing between them comes down to formality. After mastering the farewell, see how to say bye in German for the casual versions and how to say hello in German to complete the greeting cycle.
The Formal Goodbye: Auf Wiedersehen
Auf Wiedersehen — pronounced owf VEE-der-zayn — is the standard formal farewell.
It literally means “until we see each other again” (wieder = again, sehen = to see). Use it with strangers, shopkeepers, officials, in professional settings, and whenever you’d use the polite Sie form.
Copy the Phrase
The formal German goodbye is Auf Wiedersehen (owf VEE-der-zayn); casually, just say Tschüss (chooss).
All the Ways to Say Goodbye in German
| German | Pronunciation | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Auf Wiedersehen | owf VEE-der-zayn | Formal — “until we meet again” |
| Auf Wiederhören | owf VEE-der-hur-en | Formal, on the phone |
| Tschüss | chooss | Casual everyday “bye” |
| Tschüssi | CHOO-see | Cute/very casual “byeee” |
| Ciao | chow | Casual, borrowed from Italian |
| 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” (lit. “do it well”) |
| Servus | ZAIR-voos | Bavaria/Austria — hi and bye |
| Ade | ah-DAY | Southern Germany, older/regional |
Formal vs. Informal
Formal farewells:
- Auf Wiedersehen — the professional and respectful standard.
- Auf Wiederhören — the phone version (you hear rather than see the other person).
- These pair with the polite Sie form.
Informal farewells:
- Tschüss — the everyday casual bye, used constantly.
- Ciao, Bis bald, Bis später, Mach’s gut — friendly options for friends and peers.
- These pair with the informal du form.
In shops and offices, you’ll commonly hear Auf Wiedersehen even from staff who said a casual Hallo earlier — the farewell tends to stay polite in service settings.
Regional Farewells
- Servus (ZAIR-voos) — in Bavaria and Austria, doubles as both hello and goodbye.
- Ade (ah-DAY) — heard in Swabia and southwestern Germany, an older regional goodbye.
- Tschau — a German spelling of the Italian ciao, casual.
- Adieu (ah-DYUH) — used in Swiss German and parts of the southwest.
Pronunciation Tips
- Auf Wiedersehen: The ‘w’ is a ‘v’ sound (VEE-der), the ‘s’ in sehen is a ‘z’ (ZAY-en). Don’t pronounce it letter-by-letter the English way.
- Tschüss: The “tsch” is a single “ch” sound as in “church,” and the ‘ü’ is a rounded vowel — round your lips for “oo” while saying “ee.” Roughly “chooss,” but with that pursed-lip vowel.
- Mach’s gut: The “ch” is a throaty sound; “makhs goot.”
Cultural Notes
Germans tend to keep farewells brief and warm rather than drawn-out. Tschüss is by far the most common everyday goodbye, even crossing into semi-formal situations among younger people. Mach’s gut (“take care”) adds a friendly, caring touch when parting from someone you like. And remember the phone rule: when ending a call formally, switch from Wiedersehen (see) to Auf Wiederhören (hear) — a small detail that sounds polished.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say goodbye in German?
The formal goodbye is 'Auf Wiedersehen' (owf VEE-der-zayn), meaning 'until we see each other again.' The everyday casual goodbye is 'Tschüss' (chooss). Both are widely understood; choose based on how formal the situation is.
How do you pronounce Auf Wiedersehen?
It's pronounced 'owf VEE-der-zayn.' 'Auf' = 'owf' (like 'off' with an 'ow'). 'Wieder' = 'VEE-der' with a 'v' sound for the 'w.' 'Sehen' = 'ZAY-en,' the 's' sounding like a 'z.' Stress falls on 'VEE.'
What does Auf Wiedersehen literally mean?
'Auf Wiedersehen' literally means 'on/until seeing again' — that is, 'until we see each other again.' 'Wieder' means 'again' and 'sehen' means 'to see.' It's the polite, formal way to part.
What is the difference between Tschüss and Auf Wiedersehen?
'Tschüss' (chooss) is informal and casual — like 'bye' — used with friends, family, and in relaxed settings. 'Auf Wiedersehen' is formal — used with strangers, in shops, offices, and professional contexts. When in doubt with someone you don't know, use 'Auf Wiedersehen.'
How do you say goodbye on the phone in German?
On the phone the formal farewell is 'Auf Wiederhören' (owf VEE-der-hur-en), literally 'until we hear each other again,' since you hear rather than see the person. Casually you can still say 'Tschüss' or 'Bis dann' (see you then).