Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| auf Wiedersehen | /aʊ̯f ˈviːdɐˌzeː(ə)n/ (Germany) /aʊ̯f ˈviːdɐˌseː(ɛ)n/ (Austria, Southern Germany, Switzerland) |
|
| auf Wiederhören | ||
| tschüss | /t͡ʃʏs/ | informal |
| tschau (ciao) | informal | |
| Gott befohlen | dated | |
| adieu | /aˈdjøː/ | dated |
| lebe wohl | ||
| auf Wiederschauen | /aʊ̯f ˈviːdɐˌʃaʊ̯ən/ | Austria |
The phrases used for saying goodbye in German vary depending on whether you are seeing someone in person, speaking on the phone or the level of formality required. While auf Wiedersehen is a standard way to say goodbye, the noun Abschied refers to the act of departure or the farewell itself.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase auf Wiedersehen literally means "until seeing again".
Which one should you use?
Use auf Wiederhören specifically when ending a telephone conversation, as it means "until hearing again", whereas auf Wiedersehen is used for seeing someone in person. For the act of leaving, use the noun Abschied.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Auf Wiedersehen is the formal way to say goodbye, appropriate for business settings or when speaking with strangers. For informal situations, such as with friends, family or in casual shops, use tschüss or tschau (ciao). The phrase lebe wohl is a heavy, dramatic farewell used when one does not expect to see the person again for a long time or ever. The terms Gott befohlen and adieu are considered dated. For an affectionate and common way to say goodbye among friends or close acquaintances, you can use Baba.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Austria, auf Wiederschauen is a common variant of auf Wiedersehen and Servus is a widely used informal way to say goodbye. In the Tyrol region, people use Pfiat enk, while in Styria, the regional way to say goodbye is Pfiat di.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/aʊ̯f ˈviːdɐˌzeː(ə)n/
Did you know?
- The informal tschüss is actually a linguistic traveler, having likely evolved from the Dutch adjuus, which in turn came from the Spanish adiós.
- The informal greeting Servus is widely used in Austria as both a way to say hello and a way to say goodbye.
Examples in context
- Tschüss und viel Glück!Goodbye and good luck.This example shows how to use tschüss to wish someone luck.Tatoeba #485474 by Espi, translation #434818 by lukaszpp
- Lebe wohl, grausame Welt!Goodbye, cruel world.This example demonstrates the dramatic use of lebe wohl.Tatoeba #5598769 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2297079 by Hybrid
- Auf Wiedersehen, bis morgen.Goodbye till tomorrow.This example shows the formal use of auf Wiedersehen to indicate a future meeting.Tatoeba #485463 by Espi, translation #54011 by CK
- Auf Wiedersehen, Herr Müller. Vielen Dank für die hilfreichen Informationen!Goodbye, Mr. Müller. Thank you for the helpful information!
- Baba, Lisa. Bis bald!Bye, Lisa. See you soon!
- 68 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura is leaving a business meeting with Julian.
- LauraVielen Dank für Ihre Zeit, Herr Julian.Thank you very much for your time, Mr. Julian.
- JulianGern geschehen, Frau Laura.You are welcome, Ms. Laura.
- LauraDann sage ich nun auf Wiedersehen.I will say goodbye now.
- JulianAuf Wiedersehen, einen schönen Tag noch!Goodbye, have a nice day!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goodbye” translations and entries auf Wiedersehen, auf Wiederhören, tschüss, auf Wiederschauen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Pronunciation from the Wiktionary entry Adieu.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Wiederhören, Wiedersehen, auf, auf Wiederhören, auf Wiederschauen, auf Wiedersehen, tschüss, wiedersehen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
