German Farewells After a Visit: Say 'Enjoy Your Stay' and 'Thanks for Having Me'
Learn German phrases for leaving someone's home, including how to say 'enjoy your stay' and 'enjoy your time' as warm farewells, plus polite thanks and invitations to meet again.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
When you leave a German-speaking friend's home, a simple 'Auf Wiedersehen' can feel abrupt. This lesson gives you natural, polite phrases for saying goodbye after a visit. You will learn how to thank your host, wish them a pleasant remaining time, and suggest meeting again. We focus on the two common farewell wishes 'Genieß deinen Aufenthalt' and 'Genieß deine Zeit', which mean 'Enjoy your stay' and 'Enjoy your time'. These are used when you are the one leaving and the other person is staying, or when you are parting and want to wish them well for the time ahead. We will also cover register, so you can choose between informal and formal situations.
By the end, you can…
- thank a host and say goodbye naturally in German after a visit.
- wish someone an enjoyable stay or time using 'Genieß deinen Aufenthalt' or 'Genieß deine Zeit'.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Danke für die Einladung.
Thanks for the invitation.
DAHN-kuh fewr dee AYN-lah-doong
Use when you are about to leave; it thanks the host for inviting you. Works in both informal and formal contexts.
Danke, dass ich kommen durfte.
Thanks for having me.
DAHN-kuh, dahs ikh KOM-men DOORF-tuh
A warm way to thank someone for hosting you. 'Durfte' is the simple past of 'dürfen' and implies you were allowed or had the pleasure.
Genieß deinen Aufenthalt.
Enjoy your stay.
guh-NEES DY-nen OW-fen-halt
Informal singular. Use when the other person is staying somewhere (e.g., a hotel, a city, or your home) and you are leaving or saying goodbye.
Genießen Sie Ihre Zeit.
Enjoy your time.
guh-NEE-sen zee EE-ruh tsyt
Formal. Use with strangers, older people, or in professional settings. 'Ihre' is the formal possessive 'your'.
Lass uns das bald wieder machen.
Let's do this again soon.
lahs uns dahs bahlt VEE-der MAH-khen
Informal suggestion to meet again. Use with friends or family. For formal, say 'Lassen Sie uns das bald wieder machen.'
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The verb 'genießen' means 'to enjoy'. To wish someone enjoyment, use the imperative form. For informal 'du', the imperative is 'genieß' (or 'genieße'). For formal 'Sie', use 'genießen Sie'. The object follows in the accusative case. 'Aufenthalt' is masculine, so 'deinen Aufenthalt' (informal) or 'Ihren Aufenthalt' (formal). 'Zeit' is feminine, so 'deine Zeit' or 'Ihre Zeit'. Examples: 'Genieß deinen Aufenthalt in Berlin!' (Enjoy your stay in Berlin!) and 'Genießen Sie Ihre Zeit hier!' (Enjoy your time here!).
When to use it
Use 'Genieß deinen Aufenthalt' when you are leaving and the other person will remain for a while, such as at a hotel, a city, or your home. Use 'Genieß deine Zeit' more generally for any period of time, like a vacation, a weekend, or an evening. Both are friendly farewell wishes. In formal situations, switch to 'Genießen Sie Ihren Aufenthalt' or 'Genießen Sie Ihre Zeit'. If you are the guest leaving, you can combine thanks with a wish: 'Danke für alles. Genieß noch deinen Abend!' (Thanks for everything. Enjoy the rest of your evening!).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
So, ich muss jetzt los. Danke für den schönen Abend!
So, I have to go now. Thanks for the lovely evening!zoh, ikh moos yetst lohs. DAHN-kuh fewr dayn SHUR-nen AH-bentSchade, dass du schon gehst. Es war toll, dass du da warst.
Too bad you're already leaving. It was great that you were here.SHAH-duh, dahs doo shohn gayst. es vahr tol, dahs doo dah vahrstDanke, dass ich kommen durfte. Lass uns das bald wieder machen. Genieß noch deinen Abend!
Thanks for having me. Let's do this again soon. Enjoy the rest of your evening!DAHN-kuh, dahs ikh KOM-men DOORF-tuh. lahs uns dahs bahlt VEE-der MAH-khen. guh-NEES nokh DY-nen AH-bentMach's gut! Komm gut nach Hause.
Take care! Get home safely.makhs goot! kom goot nahkh HOW-zuhA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, farewells among friends are often brief but warm. A handshake is common in formal settings, while hugs are more frequent among close friends. Using 'du' versus 'Sie' matters: with acquaintances or older people, stick to formal 'Genießen Sie Ihre Zeit'. If you are the guest, always thank your host before leaving. It is also polite to offer a small compliment about the food or evening.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Genieß dein Aufenthalt' instead of 'Genieß deinen Aufenthalt'.
Try this instead: 'Aufenthalt' is masculine, so the possessive 'dein' must take the accusative masculine ending '-en': 'deinen Aufenthalt'. For feminine 'Zeit', use 'deine Zeit'. Example: 'Genieß deinen Aufenthalt in München!'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are leaving a friend's apartment after a dinner. How do you say 'Thanks for having me' in German?
Show a sample answer
Danke, dass ich kommen durfte.
This phrase directly thanks the host for the invitation and hospitality. 'Danke für die Einladung' is also correct but focuses on the invitation rather than the hosting.
2Your formal colleague is staying in town for a conference. You are leaving. How do you wish them an enjoyable stay formally?
Show a sample answer
Genießen Sie Ihren Aufenthalt.
This uses the formal imperative and the correct accusative masculine possessive 'Ihren'. 'Genießen Sie Ihre Zeit' is also acceptable if you want to focus on time rather than stay.
3You want to suggest meeting again soon to a close friend. What phrase can you use?
Show a sample answer
Lass uns das bald wieder machen.
This informal suggestion works with friends. For formal situations, use 'Lassen Sie uns das bald wieder machen.'
When leaving a German-speaking home, thank your host with 'Danke, dass ich kommen durfte' and wish them well with 'Genieß deinen Aufenthalt' or 'Genieß deine Zeit'. Use formal 'Genießen Sie Ihren Aufenthalt' with strangers or in professional settings.
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