Auf Wiedersehen
Auf Wiedersehen is the German way to say goodbye formally.
Auf Wiedersehen is a formal way to say goodbye or until we meet again. If you are ending a telephone conversation, you should instead use the specific formal phrase Auf Wiederhören, which means goodbye or until we hear each other again.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Auf Wiedersehen literally means 'until seeing again'. It is composed of auf (until/to), wieder (again) and sehen (to see).
Which one should you use?
While Auf Wiedersehen is the standard formal way to say goodbye, Tschüss is a much more common informal alternative used with friends and family.
Did you know?
- While Auf Wiedersehen is formal, if you are in a shop or a cafe, you might hear the much more casual Ciao, a loanword from Italian that has become ubiquitous in Germany.
- The formal phrase Auf Wiedersehen shares an ancestor with the English word 'up'. The German auf evolved from the Proto-Germanic word *upp.
- While Auf Wiedersehen is the standard, some regions in Southern Germany and Austria prefer Auf Wiederschaun as the formal farewell.
Examples in context
- Vielen Dank für das Treffen. Auf Wiedersehen!Thank you for the meeting. Goodbye!
- Auf Wiedersehen, Herr Schmidt.Goodbye, Mr. Schmidt.
- Auf Wiedersehen und einen schönen Tag!Goodbye and have a nice day!
Example conversation
Sarah is leaving a formal business meeting with Lukas.
- SarahVielen Dank für das Gespräch.Thank you very much for the conversation.
- LukasGerne geschehen, Frau Weber.You're welcome, Ms. Weber.
- SarahAuf Wiedersehen!Goodbye!
- LukasAuf Wiedersehen, Frau Weber.Goodbye, Ms. Weber.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Wiedersehen, auf, wiedersehen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
