Tschüss
/t͡ʃʏs/
The German way to say "informal goodbye" is Tschüss.
Tschüss is the most common way to say a casual goodbye in almost all German-speaking regions, functioning like the English "Bye".
Which one should you use?
While Tschüss is used with friends and family, Auf Wiedersehen is the standard formal way to say goodbye. You may also encounter Tschüssi, which is a more diminutive and cute version of the word.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʃʏs/
Did you know?
- The word Tschüss is a linguistic relative of the English word 'adieu' and the Spanish 'adiós'. It traveled through Dutch and Low German before becoming the standard casual goodbye in Germany.
- While Tschüss is common, some regions use Ciao as a casual alternative. This Italian loanword is so integrated that it is often used by people who have never visited Italy.
- Adding an 'i' to create Tschüssi transforms the word into a diminutive. This is a common German linguistic habit used to make a word sound more affectionate or playful.
Examples in context
- Tschüss, bis morgen!Bye, see you tomorrow!
- Tschüss, wir hören uns!Bye, we'll talk soon!
- Einfach nur Tschüss sagen.Just say bye.
Example conversation
Felix and Sarah are leaving a coffee shop.
- FelixIch muss jetzt wirklich gehen.I really have to go now.
- SarahAlles klar, Tschüss, Felix!Alright, bye, Felix!
- FelixTschüss, Sarah, bis bald!Bye, Sarah, see you soon!
- SarahBis bald!See you soon!
Sources
- Pronunciation from the Wiktionary entry tschüss.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tschüss, CC BY-SA 4.0.
