How to Say Goodbye in German: Formal to Casual Farewells
Learn German farewell expressions for every situation, from formal Auf Wiedersehen to casual Bis später, and choose the right one by relationship and setting.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
Saying goodbye in German is not a single phrase you use everywhere. German speakers choose among several farewells depending on how well they know the person, whether the situation is formal or informal, and whether they expect to see the person again soon. This lesson teaches you the main farewell expressions, what each one signals, and how to pick the right one. It covers goodbyes only, not greetings.
By the end, you can…
- say goodbye in formal, neutral, and casual German situations.
- choose a farewell based on relationship and setting.
- recognize regional differences such as Tschüss and Servus.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Auf Wiedersehen
Goodbye (formal)
owf VEE-der-zayn (final -n fully pronounced)
Standard formal farewell. Use with strangers, officials, doctors, or in shops. It literally means 'until we see each other again'.
Tschüss
Bye
chuess (ü as in French 'tu'; final -s is voiceless, like 'ss')
The most common informal farewell in most of Germany. Use with friends, family, classmates, and colleagues you know well.
Bis später
See you later
bis SHPay-ter (ä as in English 'bed')
Casual and friendly. Use when you expect to see the person again the same day or soon. Common among friends and coworkers.
Bis bald
See you soon
bis balt
Friendly and slightly warmer than Tschüss. Use when you plan to meet again before long, but not necessarily today.
Gute Nacht
Good night
GOO-tuh nakht (final -t fully pronounced)
Used only when someone is going to bed or leaving late in the evening to sleep. Not a general evening goodbye.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Many German farewells use bis plus a time word: Bis später (see you later), Bis bald (see you soon), Bis morgen (see you tomorrow), Bis dann (see you then). This pattern is friendly and informal. It signals that you expect to meet again. For a formal setting, use Auf Wiedersehen instead. You can also say Auf Wiederhören on the phone, meaning 'until we hear each other again'.
When to use it
Match the farewell to the relationship and setting. Use Auf Wiedersehen when you leave a doctor's office, a formal meeting, or a shop. Use Tschüss with friends, family, and people your own age. Use Bis später or Bis bald with people you see regularly, such as coworkers or classmates. Use Gute Nacht only when someone is going to sleep. In southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, Servus can mean both hello and goodbye in casual speech, and in Switzerland Grüezi is a greeting while Uf Wiederluege is a formal goodbye.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Guten Tag, Frau Weber. Ich muss jetzt gehen. Auf Wiedersehen!
Good day, Ms. Weber. I have to go now. Goodbye!GOO-ten tahk, frow VAY-ber. ikh moos yetst GAY-en. owf VEE-der-zaynAuf Wiedersehen, Herr Klein. Bis morgen!
Goodbye, Mr. Klein. See you tomorrow!owf VEE-der-zayn, hair klayn. bis MOR-genTschüss, Lisa! Bis später!
Bye, Lisa! See you later!chuess, LEE-zah. bis SHPay-terTschüss! Bis bald!
Bye! See you soon!chuess. bis baltA little context goes a long way
German farewells carry clear social signals. Using Tschüss with a professor or a government official can sound too casual, while Auf Wiedersehen with close friends can sound stiff or ironic. In Austria and southern Germany, Servus is common and informal for both hello and goodbye. In Switzerland, Uf Wiederluege is a standard formal goodbye, and Tschüss is understood but less common. When in doubt, a neutral Auf Wiedersehen is safe in most formal situations.
One thing to watch for
Using Gute Nacht as a general evening goodbye when leaving a restaurant or a party.
Try this instead: Gute Nacht means 'good night' and is used only when someone is going to bed or going home to sleep. For a normal evening farewell, use Auf Wiedersehen in formal settings or Tschüss in informal ones. For example, when leaving a friend's dinner party, say Tschüss or Bis bald, not Gute Nacht.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are leaving a job interview and saying goodbye to the interviewer. Which farewell fits best?
Show a sample answer
Auf Wiedersehen.
Auf Wiedersehen is the standard formal farewell and suits a professional setting with someone you do not know well. Tschüss would be too casual here, though some younger workplaces use it.
2You are leaving class and will see your friend again in an hour. Which farewell is natural?
Show a sample answer
Bis später.
Bis später means 'see you later' and fits when you expect to meet again soon. Tschüss or Bis bald are also possible, but Bis später highlights the short gap.
3Your roommate is going to bed. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
Gute Nacht.
Gute Nacht is used when someone is going to sleep. Tschüss would be odd here because the person is not leaving the building, and Auf Wiedersehen would sound far too formal.
Choose your German goodbye by relationship and setting: Auf Wiedersehen for formal, Tschüss for casual, Bis später or Bis bald when you will meet again, and Gute Nacht only for bedtime.
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