Which one should you use?
While tschüss is informal, Auf Wiedersehen is the formal way to say goodbye or "until we see each other again". If you expect to see the person again later that day or in the near future, you might use Bis später (until later) or Bis bald (until soon) if you expect to see them relatively soon.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
tschüss is an informal way to say goodbye, though it can be used in slightly more formal contexts. For strictly formal situations, use Auf Wiedersehen. For a playful tone among friends and close acquaintances, you can use the variation Tschüssi.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In southern Germany, including Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, you will often hear Tschau as a casual way to say bye. In Bavaria and parts of Austria, the informal greeting Servus is common and can mean both hello and bye.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʃʏs/
When do people say it?
When parting ways with someone you have a friendly relationship with, you might say Mach's gut, which literally means "do well" and is used to say "take care" or "be well".
Did you know?
- Even though tschüss sounds quintessentially German, it is actually an old linguistic traveler. It is believed to have originated from the Spanish adiós or the French adieu, passing through Dutch and Low German before arriving in modern German.
- While tschüss is informal, it has become so common in modern Germany that it is often used in shops and cafes even with strangers.
- In strictly formal German, Auf Wiedersehen explicitly mentions the act of seeing someone again, whereas tschüss has no such literal meaning.
Examples in context
- Tschüss, bis morgen!See ya, see you tomorrow!
- Tschüss, wir hören uns.See ya, we'll talk later.
- Tschüss, einen schönen Tag noch!See ya, have a nice day!
Example conversation
Two friends are leaving a café after meeting for coffee.
- LauraEs war schön, dich zu sehen, Maximilian.It was nice seeing you, Maximilian.
- MaximilianGanz meinerseits, Laura. Tschüss!Likewise, Laura. See ya!
- LauraTschüss, bis bald!See ya, see you soon!
- MaximilianMach's gut!Take care!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tschüss, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tschüss, CC BY-SA 4.0.
