Goodbye in German: Auf Wiedersehen, Tschüss + More

The dependable formal or neutral way to say “goodbye” in German is Auf Wiedersehen! Use Tschüss! for an everyday informal “bye.” If you know when you will meet again, say Bis später (“see you later”), Bis morgen (“see you tomorrow”), or Bis bald (“see you soon”) instead of forcing one farewell into every situation.

Duden's entry for Wiedersehen records auf Wiedersehen! as the leave-taking expression. Its entry for tschüs / tschüss labels the interjection colloquial and accepts both spellings. Goethe-Institut's A1 examination objectives include both expressions in short departures. These sources establish bounded forms and register; they do not rank every farewell by region or generation.

Choose the German farewell by relationship and timing

Think first about who is leaving and when you expect to meet again. A short time-based phrase is often more informative than a literal translation of “goodbye.”

Auf Wiedersehen does not contain a formal pronoun, so it can close many polite encounters without choosing between du and Sie. Mach's gut, by contrast, uses the familiar singular imperative. Do not use it merely because “take care” sounds polite in English when the German relationship remains formal.

Pronounce Auf Wiedersehen and Tschüss

A rough cue for Auf Wiedersehen is owf VEE-der-zay-en. The first element rhymes approximately with English “cow” without the initial consonant. The w in Wiedersehen is pronounced like English v, and the written s in sehen begins with a voiced sound in standard pronunciation. Keep the four main beats connected rather than inserting a pause after auf.

Tschüss begins with the ch sound in English “church.” Its vowel has no exact everyday English equivalent, so chooss is only a retrieval cue, not a phonetic transcription. Duden distinguishes the pronunciations associated with tschüs and tschüss; learners can use the common spelling Tschüss while copying an actual speaker's vowel.

German varieties differ in sound, rhythm, and preferred farewell. Use the German ich and ach sounds guide for broader pronunciation practice, but do not treat an English respelling as proof that a farewell sounds locally natural.

Match the farewell to the next meeting

Bis plus a time expression is a productive pattern:

• Bis gleich! — See you in a moment.
• Bis später! — See you later.
• Bis heute Abend! — See you this evening.
• Bis morgen! — See you tomorrow.
• Bis nächste Woche! — See you next week.
• Bis zum nächsten Mal! — Until next time.

Use only a time you genuinely expect. Bis gleich is not a warmer version of bis bald; it points to a very short interval. Bis bald expresses an expected reunion without making a precise appointment.

If plans are uncertain, Wir sehen uns (“See you”) or Vielleicht bis bald (“Perhaps see you soon”) avoids inventing a schedule. Duden's separate entry for wiedersehen describes meeting someone again after an absence, which is the idea inside Auf Wiedersehen.

Build a complete departure in three turns

A useful closing acknowledges the conversation before the final word:

1. Signal that the exchange or visit is ending and mention one relevant detail.
2. Confirm the next meeting, task, or time if one exists.
3. Choose a relationship-matched farewell and respond to the other person's closing.

For example:

Danke für das Gespräch. Wir sehen uns am Montag im Büro. — Ja, bis Montag. Auf Wiedersehen! — Auf Wiedersehen!

Thank you for the conversation. We'll see each other at the office on Monday. — Yes, see you Monday. Goodbye! — Goodbye!

This sequence is easier to reuse than a list of interchangeable synonyms. The next meeting determines bis Montag; the professional relationship supports Auf Wiedersehen.

Work, friends, phone, and evening examples

Leaving a first professional meeting

Vielen Dank für Ihre Zeit, Frau Kaya. Es hat mich gefreut, Sie kennenzulernen. Auf Wiedersehen! — Auf Wiedersehen, Herr Reed.

Thank you for your time, Ms Kaya. It was a pleasure to meet you. Goodbye! — Goodbye, Mr Reed.

The nice to meet you in German guide covers Freut mich and the fuller Es freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen without turning a farewell into another introduction lesson.

Leaving friends

Ich muss los. Danke für den schönen Abend! — Gern. Tschüss, bis bald! — Tschüss!

I have to go. Thanks for the lovely evening! — You're welcome. Bye, see you soon! — Bye!

Ich muss los announces the departure without making it dramatic. Tschüss and bis bald fit because the exchange is familiar and another meeting is expected.

Ending a phone call

Dann bis morgen um zehn. Vielen Dank für Ihren Anruf. Auf Wiederhören! — Auf Wiederhören!

Then until tomorrow at ten. Thank you for your call. Goodbye! — Goodbye!

Many speakers also use Tschüss or Auf Wiedersehen by phone. Auf Wiederhören is a useful traditional option, not a rule for every call or workplace.

Leaving at night

Es ist schon spät. Gute Nacht und komm gut nach Hause! — Danke, du auch. Tschüss!

It's already late. Good night, and get home safely! — Thanks, you too. Bye!

The familiar imperative komm addresses one du person. Avoid copying it into a formal encounter without adjusting the sentence.

Tschüss, servus, ciao, and regional variation

German-speaking communities use many regional and social alternatives. Servus can greet or farewell people in parts of southern Germany and Austria; Auf Wiederschauen is associated particularly with Austrian usage; ciao and tschau also appear informally. These labels describe tendencies, not borders where everyone suddenly changes vocabulary.

If people around you consistently use one local form, learn its relationship and tone from those interactions. Do not announce that a regional farewell is “more authentic” or use it as an imitation of an accent. Auf Wiedersehen, Tschüss, and transparent bis phrases give a learner a sound starting set.

Openings and closings should stay in the same social frame. Review hello in German, good morning in German, and how are you in German to avoid starting with formal Guten Tag and abruptly switching to a familiar command you would not otherwise use.

Common mistakes and practical boundaries

Using Auf Wiedersehen as a literal promise. It expresses a polite farewell even when no date is arranged. Use a bis phrase when the timing matters.

Calling Tschüss formal. Duden marks it colloquial. It is extremely useful in everyday life, but a conservative official or first professional encounter may call for Auf Wiedersehen. Follow the relationship already established.

Writing Aufwiedersehen as one word. In the farewell expression, write Auf Wiedersehen. The noun Wiedersehen is capitalised.

Assuming one country-wide script. Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, regional communities, workplaces, families, and age groups do not share one fixed farewell ranking.

A memorised goodbye does not settle an employment, legal, medical, travel, or safety-critical exchange. Confirm the actual instruction or appointment before leaving, and use qualified interpretation when misunderstanding carries real consequences.

Limitations and commercial disclosure

The cited sources support spelling, meaning, and bounded examples. They do not prove which expression a particular person prefers or that a pronunciation cue matches a regional accent. A qualified German-language reviewer should assess public scripts, formal correspondence, or material aimed at a specific local community.

LinguaLive sells speaking-practice services and may benefit when readers use the AI German tutor or explore the German learning hub. Rehearsal can supply extra closing turns, but this article does not demonstrate a proficiency, workplace, or relationship result.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say goodbye in German?

Say Auf Wiedersehen! for a dependable polite farewell. Say Tschüss! for an everyday informal “bye.”

What is the difference between Auf Wiedersehen and Tschüss?

Auf Wiedersehen is neutral or formal-friendly. Tschüss is colloquial and fits many familiar everyday departures.

How do you say see you later in German?

Say Bis später! Use Bis bald! for “see you soon” or Bis morgen! when the next meeting is tomorrow.

Is Tschüss spelled with one s or two?

Duden accepts both tschüs and tschüss. Tschüss with ss is a common learner spelling; the listed pronunciations differ in vowel length.

Sources and editorial review

This guide was checked against its primary official or academic reference on 28 August 2026. Language usage can vary by region, relationship, and situation. Review the primary source.