auf Wiederhören
The German phrase for goodbye on the phone is auf Wiederhören.
auf Wiederhören is a standard way to say goodbye when ending a telephone conversation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "until we hear each other again".
Which one should you use?
While auf Wiedersehen is the standard way to say goodbye in person ("until we see each other again"), auf Wiederhören is the specific version used for telephone conversations.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
auf Wiederhören is a formal way to end a call and is commonly used in business or professional contexts. In informal settings, such as with friends or family, people often use Tschüss instead.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of southern Germany, Ciao is used as a way to say goodbye.
Did you know?
- If you are using a video call like Zoom or Skype, many Germans feel that auf Wiederhören is technically inaccurate and might prefer the standard auf Wiedersehen since you are actually seeing each other.
- The word auf in this phrase shares a common ancestor with the English word 'up', stemming from the Proto-Germanic *upp.
- The word Wiederhören is a nominalized verb, meaning the act of 'hearing again' has been turned into a noun.
Examples in context
- Vielen Dank und auf Wiederhören.Thank you very much and goodbye on the phone.
- Auf Wiederhören, bis morgen!Goodbye on the phone, see you tomorrow!
Example conversation
Laura is finishing a business call with Julian.
- LauraDas war alles, vielen Dank für die Hilfe.That was all, thank you very much for the help.
- JulianGerne, Laura. Haben Sie noch einen schönen Tag.You're welcome, Laura. Have a nice day.
- LauraDanke, gleichfalls. Auf Wiederhören!Thanks, you too. Goodbye!
- JulianAuf Wiederhören, Laura!Goodbye, Laura!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry auf Wiederhören, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Wiederhören, auf, auf Wiederhören, CC BY-SA 4.0.
