Whether you're leaving a café or ending a phone call, knowing how to say goodbye in German is essential.
In this guide, you'll learn the most common ways to say goodbye in German.
More Than "Tschüss"
Most German learners start with the word tschüss, which is informal and used all the time.
But there are many other goodbye expressions in German.
Learning different goodbye phrases will help you to end conversations politely and sound more natural in different settings.
We'll start with the most common expressions.
Common Ways to Say Goodbye in German
These expressions are useful in daily life. They work in casual conversations with friends, family, or people you know well.
The most commonly used way to say goodbye in German is "Tschüß". This is a very informal way of saying goodbye, and it is usually used among friends and family. It is similar to "Bye" in English.
Informal Goodbyes
Now let's look at some more informal ways of saying bye:
"Bis bald" is a more informal way of saying goodbye in German, and it is used to say that you will see the person again soon. It is quite similar to "See you soon" in English:
"Hau rein" is an informal and cheerful way of saying goodbye, and it is usually used among close friends. It is similar to "Take care" in English.
Formal and Polite Goodbyes
In professional situations or when speaking to someone you don’t know well, it’s better to use a more polite form. These expressions are appropriate for emails, offices, formal phone calls, and similar settings.
"Auf Wiedersehen" is a common, more formal way of saying goodbye in German, and it is used when saying goodbye to someone you may not see for a while. It is similar to "Goodbye" in English.
Regional Variants
Depending on where you are in the German-speaking world, you might hear different goodbye phrases.
- ServusBye (common in southern Germany and Austria)
- Pfiat diBye (Austrian/Bavarian dialect, informal)
- AdeBye (Swabian)
If you're in Bavaria or Austria, servus works both for hello and goodbye. Pfiat di is very informal and means something like "God protect you".
Ending a Conversation Politely
In many situations, especially with strangers or colleagues, it’s good to combine a goodbye with a polite wish or a thank you.
On the Phone
If you're speaking on the phone in German, the goodbye phrases are slightly different. Auf Wiederhören is the most standard phrase.
Examples
Let's look at a few examples of how to use these phrases:
Danke für den schönen Abend! Wir sehen uns ja dann morgen in der Uni. Tschüß!
Final Thoughts
Take some time to learn the expressions that match your everyday situations. And the next time you leave a café, sign off a phone call, or wrap up a meeting, you’ll know exactly what to say.
Bis bald!