auf Wiedersehen
/aʊ̯f ˈviːdɐˌzeː(ə)n/
auf Wiedersehen is the German way to say goodbye formally.
auf Wiedersehen is the most common and formal way to say goodbye in German, translating to 'Goodbye' or 'Until we meet again'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of auf (until/on) and Wiedersehen (seeing again), which literally means 'until seeing again'.
Which one should you use?
While auf Wiedersehen is the standard formal goodbye, Tschüss is the common informal equivalent used with friends and family. Additionally, when ending a telephone conversation, Germans often use auf Wiederhören (until hearing again) instead of auf Wiedersehen (until seeing again).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Swiss-German, Adieu is often used and can be used both formally and informally.
How do you pronounce it?
/aʊ̯f ˈviːdɐˌzeː(ə)n/
Did you know?
- The formal auf Wiedersehen was likely modeled after the French phrase au revoir.
- The word Wiedersehen functions as a noun in this phrase, which is why it is capitalized in writing.
Examples in context
- Auf Wiedersehen, Herr Müller. Vielen Dank für Ihre Hilfe!Goodbye, Mr. Müller. Thank you for your help!
- Bis später, Frau Schmidt. Es war schön, Sie kennenzulernen.See you later, Mrs. Schmidt. It was nice to meet you.
- Auf Wiedersehen und einen schönen Tag noch!Goodbye and have a nice day!
Example conversation
Hannah is leaving a formal business meeting with Julian.
- HannahVielen Dank für das Gespräch.Thank you very much for the conversation.
- JulianSehr gerne, Hannah. Auf Wiedersehen!You're very welcome, Hannah. Goodbye!
- HannahAuf Wiedersehen, Julian.Goodbye, Julian.
- JulianEinen schönen Tag noch.Have a nice day.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry auf Wiedersehen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Wiedersehen, auf, auf Wiedersehen, wiedersehen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
