German · Greetings & Essentials
"Goodbye" in German: auf Wiedersehen
auf Wiedersehen
Note: informal: tschüss
The standard goodbye is auf Wiedersehen, which literally means until we see each other again. With friends and family, people usually say tschüss instead. On the phone, Auf Wiederhören is the polite close.
Leaving a shop
Auf Wiedersehen, und einen schönen Tag noch!Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce auf Wiedersehen
Say it
owf VEE-der-zay-en
/aʊf ˈviːdɐˌzeːən/
owf VEE-der-zay-en. The W sounds like English v, and sehen rhymes with "say-en". Informal tschüss is roughly chooss, with a short ü.
"Goodbye" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| auf Wiedersehen | goodbye Polite default with strangers, shops, and formal moments. | Polite default with strangers, shops, and formal moments. |
| tschüss | bye Informal goodbye with friends, classmates, and colleagues you know well. | Informal goodbye with friends, classmates, and colleagues you know well. |
| ciao | bye Borrowed from Italian; common among younger speakers. | Borrowed from Italian; common among younger speakers. |
| bis bald | see you soon Friendly close when you expect to meet again soon. | Friendly close when you expect to meet again soon. |
| Auf Wiederhören | goodbye (on the phone) Polite phone goodbye; hören means to hear. | Polite phone goodbye; hören means to hear. |
How to use auf Wiedersehen in real life
- 1Leaving a shop
Auf Wiedersehen, und einen schönen Tag noch!
Goodbye, and have a nice day!
Staff often say this as you leave. You can answer the same way.
- 2Leaving friends
Auf Wiedersehen! Bis morgen dann.
Goodbye! See you tomorrow then.
Auf Wiedersehen works even with friends; many still prefer tschüss in casual groups.
- 3Ending a phone call
Am Telefon sagt man Auf Wiederhören, nicht Auf Wiedersehen.
On the phone you say Auf Wiederhören, not Auf Wiedersehen.
Wiederhören is for hearing; Wiedersehen is for when you can see each other.
Mistakes English speakers make with auf Wiedersehen
Incorrect: Auf Wiedersehen! (to your best friend)
Correct: Tschüss!
Auf Wiedersehen is polite but can feel stiff among close friends. Tschüss is the natural informal choice.
Incorrect: Auf Wiedersehen (said on the phone)
Correct: Auf Wiederhören!
Wiedersehen is about seeing; on the phone Germans prefer Wiederhören (hearing again).
Good to know
Tschüss started in northern Germany and is now used almost everywhere with people you address as du. In southern Germany and Austria you may also hear Servus as both hello and goodbye. Among very close friends, a simple Bis dann! is enough.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Leaving a language class in Munich
ChatPal
Die Stunde ist vorbei. Auf Wiedersehen, Frau Keller!
Class is over. Goodbye, Ms Keller!
You
Auf Wiedersehen! Danke für heute.
Goodbye! Thanks for today.
ChatPal
Und zu dir: tschüss, bis Freitag!
And to you: bye, see you Friday!
You
Tschüss! Ich freue mich schon.
Bye! I'm already looking forward to it.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Goodbye" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Goodbye" in German
When should I use auf Wiedersehen instead of tschüss?
Use auf Wiedersehen with strangers, older people you address as Sie, and in formal settings. Tschüss fits friends and casual colleagues.
How do you spell tschüss?
With ü and double s: tschüss. You will also see tschüs with one s in casual writing, but dictionaries prefer tschüss.
What does auf Wiedersehen literally mean?
Until we see each other again. Auf means on or until, wieder means again, and sehen means to see.
Is ciao common in German?
Yes among younger people, mostly as goodbye. It is informal, like tschüss, and not for formal meetings.
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