How to Say “Safe Trip” in German

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gute Reise
The German phrase for "safe trip" is gute Reise.
gute Reise is a common way to wish someone a pleasant and secure journey. You can tailor your well-wishes by adding phrases to specify what you hope for the traveler. For example, you can add und viel Spaß to wish them lots of fun or und eine angenehme Reise to wish them a pleasant journey. If the person is traveling specifically by plane, you might say Guten Flug (have a good flight) and if they are returning home, you can say Guten Heimweg (have a good journey home).

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?

While Gute Reise focuses on the quality of the journey itself, the phrase Komm gut an is used more specifically to wish someone a safe arrival at their destination. Additionally, Komm gut nach Hause is a common alternative used specifically when someone is traveling back to their own home.

How does it change in a sentence?

The adjective gut takes the -e ending as gute because it is modifying the feminine noun die Reise in the accusative case, as in the implied phrase [Ich wünsche dir eine] gute Reise.

When do people say it?

When someone wishes you Gute Reise, a natural response is Danke! if they are not traveling. If they are also traveling, you can respond with Danke, gleichfalls! (Thanks, same to you!).

Did you know?

  • In many German-speaking regions, if someone is leaving on a long trip, it is common to wish them 'Hals- und Beinbruch' instead of a pleasant journey.
  • The word Reise shares a distant linguistic ancestor with the English word 'rise', both descending from a Proto-Germanic root related to moving or rising up.
  • The German language has a specific nuance where Reise implies a significant journey, whereas a short trip or errand is called an Ausflug or Fahrt, making gute Reise sound overly grand for a quick commute.

Examples in context

  • Gute Reise!
    Have a safe trip.
    This is a simple way to say "Have a safe trip."
    Tatoeba #340916 by MUIRIEL, translation #28483 by CK
  • Gute Reise, Tom!
    Have a safe trip, Tom!
    This shows how to include a name in the well-wish.
    Tatoeba #11919408 by Adelpa, translation #13446269 by rul
  • Ich wünsche dir eine gute Reise.
    I wish you a good trip.

Example conversation

Maximilian is leaving for a vacation at the train station.

  1. Hannah

    Vergiss deinen Reisepass nicht!
    Don't forget your passport!
  2. Maximilian

    Keine Sorge, ich habe ihn dabei.
    No worries, I have it with me.
  3. Hannah

    Dann gute Reise, Maximilian!
    Then have a good trip, Maximilian!
  4. Maximilian

    Danke, Hannah. Bis bald!
    Thanks, Hannah. See you soon!

Sources

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Tiffany Madeleine
Tiffany MadeleineHelp 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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