gute Reise
The English phrase "happy journey" is translated into German as gute Reise.
Gute Reise! is used when someone is departing on a trip, whether by car, train, plane or other means.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective gute (good) and the noun Reise (journey/trip).
Which one should you use?
If the person is specifically traveling by vehicle (car, bus, train), Germans often use Gute Fahrt! instead of Gute Reise!
Is it said differently in some regions?
Guade Reise! is the Bavarian dialect way to say 'Have a good journey!'
How does it change in a sentence?
Because Reise is a feminine noun, the adjective gut takes the feminine ending -e in the accusative case used for wishes.
When do people say it?
The standard response to being wished Gute Reise! is Danke! (Thanks!) or Danke, gleichfalls! (Thanks, likewise!) if the other person is also traveling.
Did you know?
- The word Reise shares an ancestral root with the English word 'rise', stemming from the Proto-West Germanic term raisu which originally related to the idea of moving or moving upward.
- In many German-speaking regions, rather than wishing a 'good' journey, people often say Komm heil an!, which means 'Arrive safely/whole!', emphasizing physical safety over the enjoyment of the trip.
- The term Reise is used in the compound word Reisepass for 'passport', literally meaning a 'journey pass' that allows the holder to travel across borders.
Examples in context
- Gute Reise! Ich wünsche Ihnen eine angenehme Zeit.Have a good journey! I wish you a pleasant time.
- Schöne Reise! Genieße deinen Trip und komm gesund zurück.Have a lovely journey! Enjoy your trip and come back safely.
- Ich wünsche dir eine gute Reise.I wish you a happy journey.
- Gute Reise und komm gesund wieder!Have a happy journey and come back healthy!
- Wir sagen alle: Gute Reise!We all say: Have a happy journey!
Example conversation
Lukas is at the train station about to leave for a vacation.
- SarahDein Zug kommt gleich, Lukas.Your train is coming soon, Lukas.
- LukasJa, ich muss jetzt wirklich los.Yes, I really have to go now.
- SarahGute Reise, mein Lieber!Have a happy journey, my dear!
- LukasVielen Dank, Sarah!Thank you very much, Sarah!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Reise, CC BY-SA 4.0.
