How to Say “Hello and Goodbye” in German

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Hallo und Auf Wiedersehen
The phrase "hello and goodbye" in German is Hallo und Auf Wiedersehen.
This phrase combines a greeting used upon arrival with a parting phrase used when leaving.

Which one should you use?

The phrase uses Auf Wiedersehen for a formal goodbye, which literally means "until we see each other again." This contrasts with the informal Tschüss, which is used for a more casual "goodbye."

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

For a more casual version of "hello and bye," you can use Hallo und Tschüss. In formal situations, greetings change based on the time of day: Guten Morgen (Good morning) is used until about noon, Guten Tag (Good day) is a general formal greeting and Guten Abend (Good evening) is used in the evening. For farewells, Auf Wiedersehen is the formal standard. In informal or colloquial settings, you might use Bis später (See you later) or the colloquial Mach's gut (Take care or Be well).

How does it change in a sentence?

When you are ending a telephone conversation, you should use Auf Wiederhören (until we hear each other again) instead of Auf Wiedersehen.

Did you know?

  • While Hallo is universal, some traditional German regions still prefer Grüß Gott in the south, which translates to 'Greet God'.
  • The word hallo has roots in a specific shout used to hail a ferryman across a river in much older forms of the language.

Examples in context

  • Wir sagen einfach: Hallo und Auf Wiedersehen.
    We simply say: hello and goodbye.

Example conversation

Lukas is quickly dropping off a package at Julia's house.

  1. Lukas

    Hallo und Auf Wiedersehen, Julia!
    Hello and goodbye, Julia!
  2. Julia

    Schon weg? Du bist aber schnell.
    Gone already? You are really fast.
  3. Lukas

    Ja, ich habe leider keine Zeit.
    Yes, unfortunately I have no time.
  4. Julia

    Alles klar, bis bald dann!
    All right, see you soon then!

Sources

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Christian Leigh
Christian LeighHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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