How to Say Goodbye in German

TL;DR

The most common way to say goodbye in German is:

Tschüss

It’s friendly, natural, and appropriate for most everyday situations.

Other useful farewell expressions include:

If you’re just starting to learn German, remember these three expressions:

• Tschüss for everyday conversations.
• Auf Wiedersehen in formal situations.
• Gute Nacht before going to bed.

How do you say “goodbye” in German?

Learning how to say goodbye is just as important as learning how to say hello.

Whether you’re leaving a café, ending a business meeting, saying farewell to friends, or hanging up the phone, German has several expressions depending on the situation.

The good news is that you don’t need to memorize dozens of phrases.

By learning a handful of common farewells, you’ll sound polite, confident, and much more natural when speaking German.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• the most common ways to say goodbye,
• when each expression sounds natural,
• native pronunciation with audio,
• real-life conversations,
• and cultural tips to help you use each farewell correctly.

Quick farewell cheat sheet

Need a quick answer?

Here’s which farewell German speakers typically use.

We’ll explain each expression below.

Tschüss

Tschüss is the most common way to say “Bye” in German.

It’s friendly, relaxed, and suitable for everyday conversations.

You’ll hear it:

• between friends,
• among coworkers,
• in shops,
• at restaurants,
• and even with strangers in casual situations.

Although informal, Tschüss is accepted throughout Germany and is often the safest farewell to learn first.

Example

Tschüss!

Bye!

Simple, natural, and used every day.

Auf Wiedersehen

If Tschüss is the casual goodbye, Auf Wiedersehen is its formal counterpart.

It literally means:

“Until we see each other again.”

German speakers commonly use it when:

• speaking with customers,
• talking to hotel staff,
• ending business meetings,
• leaving a doctor’s office,
• or saying goodbye to someone they don’t know well.

Although it sounds formal, it’s still used regularly in everyday life whenever politeness is expected.

Example

Auf Wiedersehen!

Goodbye!

If you’re unsure whether to use Tschüss or Auf Wiedersehen, choose Auf Wiedersehen in professional or formal situations.

Tschüss or Auf Wiedersehen?

Many learners wonder which expression they should use.

Here’s a simple comparison.

When in doubt:

• use Tschüss with friends,
• use Auf Wiedersehen with strangers or in business settings.

You’ll rarely sound inappropriate by choosing the more polite option.

Bis bald

Bis bald means:

“See you soon.”

Unlike Tschüss, this expression suggests that you’ll meet the other person again in the near future.

It’s commonly used with:

• friends,
• classmates,
• coworkers,
• and family members.

Example

Bis bald!

See you soon!

Bis später

Bis später means:

“See you later.”

German speakers use this expression when they expect to meet again later the same day.

It’s common among:

• friends,
• family,
• classmates,
• coworkers.

Unlike Bis bald, which could mean sometime in the near future, Bis später usually refers to later today.

Example

Bis später!

See you later!

Bis morgen

If you’ll see someone tomorrow, simply say:

Bis morgen.

It means:

“See you tomorrow.”

You’ll hear this expression every day in:

• schools,
• offices,
• gyms,
• and among friends.

Example

Bis morgen!

See you tomorrow!

Gute Nacht

One of the most common beginner mistakes is using Gute Nacht as a general goodbye.

Don’t.

Gute Nacht means:

“Good night.”

German speakers use it only when:

• going to bed,
• leaving late at night,
• wishing someone a good night’s sleep.

If you’re leaving a restaurant at 7:00 p.m., Tschüss is usually more appropriate than Gute Nacht.

Example

Gute Nacht!

Good night!

Auf Wiederhören

While Auf Wiedersehen literally means “until we see each other again,” Auf Wiederhören means:

“Until we hear each other again.”

This farewell is mainly used when ending a phone call.

Many businesses, customer service representatives, and native speakers still use it today.

Example

Auf Wiederhören!

Goodbye! (on the phone)

Which goodbye should you choose?

Here’s a quick comparison of the most common German farewell expressions.

For beginners, Tschüss, Auf Wiedersehen, and Bis bald are the three most useful expressions to master first.

Real conversations

Learning complete conversations will help you remember each farewell naturally.

Leaving a café

Customer

Danke!

Server

Gern geschehen.

Customer

Tschüss!

Bye!

Leaving the office

Coworker A

Schönen Feierabend!

(Have a nice evening after work!)

Coworker B

Danke! Bis morgen!

See you tomorrow!

Ending a phone call

A

Vielen Dank für Ihre Hilfe.

(Thank you for your help.)

B

Gern geschehen.

Auf Wiederhören.

Goodbye!

Saying goodbye to friends

A

Ich muss jetzt los.

(I have to go now.)

B

Bis bald!

See you soon!

German farewell etiquette

Choosing the right goodbye is less about grammar and more about the situation.

For friends, family, and most everyday encounters, Tschüss sounds relaxed and natural.

In professional settings or when speaking with someone you don’t know well, Auf Wiedersehen shows respect and politeness.

Expressions beginning with Bis… are used only when you expect to see the other person again. If you aren’t sure when you’ll meet again, Tschüss or Auf Wiedersehen is usually the safer choice.

Remember that Gute Nacht is reserved for bedtime or late in the evening. Native speakers don’t normally use it as a general farewell during the day.

With just these few expressions, you’ll be able to end conversations politely and naturally in almost any situation.

Common mistakes learners make

German has several ways to say goodbye, but using the wrong one can sound unusual or confusing.

Here are a few mistakes beginners often make.

Using Gute Nacht as a general goodbye

This is probably the most common mistake.

Remember:

• Gute Nacht means “Good night.”
• Tschüss means “Bye.”

If you’re leaving a coffee shop in the afternoon, say:

Tschüss!

Not:

Gute Nacht!

Reserve Gute Nacht for bedtime or when you’re leaving very late in the evening.

Using Auf Wiedersehen with close friends every time

Although Auf Wiedersehen is perfectly correct, it sounds fairly formal.

Native speakers usually say:

• Tschüss
• Bis bald
• Bis später

when talking with friends or family.

Using Auf Wiedersehen with your best friend isn’t wrong—it just sounds a little more formal than most people would naturally choose.

Using Bis… when you don’t know if you’ll meet again

Expressions like:

• Bis bald
• Bis später
• Bis morgen

all suggest you’ll see the other person again.

If you’re unlikely to meet them again, or you simply don’t know when you’ll meet, choose:

• Tschüss
• Auf Wiedersehen

instead.

Forgetting that Auf Wiederhören is mainly for phone calls

Many beginners memorize Auf Wiederhören because it looks similar to Auf Wiedersehen.

However, it’s mainly used when ending a telephone conversation.

If you’re talking face to face, Auf Wiedersehen is usually the correct choice.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the most common way to say goodbye in German?

The most common everyday farewell is Tschüss.

It’s friendly, natural, and widely used throughout Germany in everyday conversations.

What’s the difference between Tschüss and Auf Wiedersehen?

Tschüss is informal and works well with friends, coworkers, and most casual situations.

Auf Wiedersehen is more formal and is often used in professional settings or when speaking with strangers.

Can I always say Tschüss?

Most of the time, yes.

It’s acceptable in many everyday situations, including shops, cafés, and casual workplaces.

However, if you’re speaking in a formal business environment or to someone you want to show extra respect, Auf Wiedersehen is usually the better choice.

When should I say Gute Nacht?

Use Gute Nacht only when someone is going to bed or when it’s late in the evening and you’re wishing them a good night’s sleep.

It isn’t the standard way to say goodbye during the day.

What does Bis bald mean?

Bis bald means “See you soon.”

It suggests that you’ll meet the other person again in the near future, although it doesn’t specify exactly when.

What’s the difference between Bis später and Bis morgen?

Bis später means “See you later,” usually later the same day.

Bis morgen means “See you tomorrow,” so it’s only used when you know you’ll meet again the next day.

Why do Germans say Auf Wiederhören on the phone?

The word hören means “to hear.”

Since you can’t see the other person during a phone call, Germans traditionally say Auf Wiederhören, meaning “Until we hear each other again.”

Final thoughts

Learning how to say goodbye in German is one of the easiest ways to make your conversations sound more natural.

The good news is that you don’t need to memorize dozens of expressions.

For most everyday situations, these seven farewells will cover almost everything you’ll encounter:

• Tschüss
• Auf Wiedersehen
• Bis bald
• Bis später
• Bis morgen
• Gute Nacht
• Auf Wiederhören

As you continue learning German, listen to the native audio throughout this guide and practice saying each phrase aloud. Repeating them in realistic situations will help you remember not only the words, but also when native speakers naturally use them.

A simple farewell is often the last thing someone hears in a conversation. Choosing the right one leaves a friendly, polite, and confident impression.

Further reading

Ready to expand your everyday German? These beginner-friendly guides will help you build practical vocabulary and communicate more naturally.

• How to Say Hi in German
• German Numbers: Count from 1 to 100 and Beyond
• German Pronouns Chart: Personal, Possessive & More
• Restaurant German for Ordering and Paying

References

• Wiktionary: Tschüss
• Wiktionary: Auf Wiedersehen
• Wiktionary: Gute Nacht
• Cambridge German–English Dictionary