In this speaking workshop you will practice four common German ways to say goodbye in relaxed social situations. You will hear each phrase, learn what it means in English, and then use it in short guided exchanges. The goal is to help you leave a gathering politely and suggest meeting again. You can play both roles with the audio, but there is no automatic assessment, so use the answer keys to check yourself.
Four casual goodbyes and what they mean
Start by listening to and repeating each phrase. «Bis später!» means See you later! Use it when you expect to see the person again the same day. «Bis bald!» means See you soon! It works when you will meet again soon, but not necessarily today. «Bis dann!» means See you then! or Catch you soon! It is relaxed and vague, useful when no exact time has been fixed. «Mach's gut!» means Take care! or Bye for now! It is warm and casual, often said when someone is leaving. Notice that all four are short and friendly. Repeat each one several times, paying attention to the vowel in «später» and the shortened form in «Mach's gut!».
A short goodbye exchange
Now listen to a short dialogue between two people, A and B. A says: «So, ich muss langsam los. Bis später!» This means: So, I have to get going soon. See you later! B replies: «Schade! Mach's gut. Wir sehen uns bald.» This means: Too bad! Take care. We'll see each other soon. A answers: «Ja, bis bald! Ich schreib dir.» This means: Yes, see you soon! I'll write to you. B closes with: «Super, bis dann!» This means: Great, see you then! In this scene, A is the one leaving and B is staying. A uses «Bis später!» and «Bis bald!» while B uses «Mach's gut.» and «Bis dann!» Practice reading both roles aloud.
Choosing the right goodbye
Each phrase fits a slightly different situation. If you plan to see the person again the same day, «Bis später!» is a natural choice. If you will meet again soon but have not fixed a day, «Bis bald!» works well. If you are leaving and want to be warm and casual, «Mach's gut!» is a good fit. If no exact time has been set and you want a relaxed closing, «Bis dann!» is useful. In the dialogue, A says «Bis später!» first, then «Bis bald!» after B says «Wir sehen uns bald.» B uses «Mach's gut.» as a warm farewell and «Bis dann!» as a relaxed final reply. Try to match the phrase to the situation rather than using one phrase for everything.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Bis später!
See you later!
bis SHPAY-ter
Bis bald!
See you soon!
bis BALT
Bis dann!
See you then! / Catch you soon!
bis DAN
Mach's gut!
Take care! / Bye for now!
makhs GOOT
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
So, ich muss langsam los. Bis später!
So, I have to get going soon. See you later!Schade! Mach's gut. Wir sehen uns bald.
Too bad! Take care. We'll see each other soon.Ja, bis bald! Ich schreib dir.
Yes, see you soon! I'll write to you.Super, bis dann!
Great, see you then!Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided goodbye exchange
You are leaving a small gathering. Your friend is staying. Use the phrases from the lesson to say goodbye in German.
Your task: Say aloud: So, I have to get going soon. See you later! Then imagine your friend replies: Too bad! Take care. We'll see each other soon. Now you reply: Yes, see you soon! I'll write to you. Finally, your friend says: Great, see you then! Check your lines against the dialogue in the lesson.
Choose the right reply
You hear someone say one of the farewell phrases. Choose the most fitting reply from the options and say it aloud.
Your task: 1) Someone says «Bis später!» Do you reply with «Bis bald!» or «Mach's gut.»? 2) Someone says «Mach's gut.» Do you reply with «Bis dann!» or «Bis später!»? 3) Someone says «Wir sehen uns bald.» Do you reply with «Ja, bis bald!» or «So, ich muss langsam los.»? Say your chosen reply aloud, then check the answers below.
Recall the dialogue with correct roles
Without looking at the lesson, try to remember the short dialogue. One person is leaving, the other is staying.
Your task: Say the whole dialogue aloud from memory. Start with the person who is leaving. Use «So, ich muss langsam los. Bis später!» Then say the staying person's reply. Continue until the end. If you forget a line, look back at the lesson, then try again.
Common questions
Can I use «Bis später!» even if I might not see the person again today?
«Bis später!» is most natural when you expect to see the person again the same day. If you are not sure when you will meet again, «Bis bald!» or «Bis dann!» are more relaxed and vague choices.
Is «Mach's gut!» only for the person who is leaving?
«Mach's gut!» is often said to someone who is leaving, but it can also be used as a warm goodbye in other casual situations. In the dialogue, the person staying says it to the person leaving. You can use it when you want a friendly, caring tone.
Sources and further reading
- german: say goodbye in social settingsChecked September 2026
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