Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| schlaf gut | /ʃlaːf ɡuːt/ (word by word) | informal |
| schlafen Sie gut | formal |
This phrase is used as a farewell to wish someone a good night's rest.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase schlaf gut literally translates to "sleep well".
Which one should you use?
The form schlaf gut is used for informal situations, while schlafen Sie gut is the version used for formal situations.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
schlaf gut is an informal way to say "Sleep well!" In contrast, schlafen Sie gut is a formal way to say "Sleep well!"
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Bavarian dialect, you may hear the variation Schlof guat!
How does it change in a sentence?
The form schlaf gut uses the imperative singular, which is used when addressing one person informally. The form schlafen Sie gut uses the formal imperative, used when addressing one person with Sie.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃlaːf ɡuːt/
When do people say it?
When a friend says schlaf gut to you, a common response is Danke, du auch! (Thanks, you too!).
Did you know?
- Although schlaf gut is a standard farewell, saying it too early in the evening can be seen as a hint that you want the other person to go to bed.
- While schlaf gut is used for a good night's rest, Germans sometimes use the phrase Schlaf schön to add a sense of 'sweet' or 'beautiful' dreams to the wish.
- The formal pronoun Sie in schlafen Sie gut evolved from a plural demonstrative form, meaning the formal address was originally a way of speaking to multiple people.
Examples in context
- Gute Nacht! Schlaf gut!Good night, sleep tight.This sentence shows how to use schlaf gut after a standard good night greeting.Tatoeba #5320092 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #64834 by shekitten
- Schlaf gut und bis morgen!Sleep well and see you tomorrow!
- Schlaf gut und träum was Schönes!Sleep tight and have sweet dreams!
- Bis morgen, schlaf gut!See you tomorrow, sleep tight!
Example conversation
Lukas is leaving Sarah's house after a visit.
- SarahEs war schön, dass du da warst.It was nice that you were here.
- LukasDanke, Sarah. Ich muss jetzt auch nach Hause.Thanks, Sarah. I have to go home now too.
- SarahAlles klar, schlaf gut!All right, sleep tight!
- LukasDanke, dir auch eine gute Nacht!Thanks, good night to you too!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sleep tight” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (Schlaf, gut) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Sie, gut, schlafen, sie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
