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german for goodbye: auf wiedersehen

See you soon in German – Basic German 101

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“See you soon” is a great way to bid each other farewell. It’s not as formal as “goodbye.” And it’s not as finite as “farewell.” Instead it holds the promise that the two of you shall meet again soon. So you, as an avid German learner, may be wondering how to say “see you soon” in German? Do the Germans even have a similar phrase? Don’t you worry! You will find all the answers below.

wir sehen uns - we'll see each other in german
Image by Kate Cox from Pixabay

What do Germans say when they part from one another?

Just as in English, there are several things you can say in German when you part ways. The most formal way to say goodbye in German is “Auf Wiedersehen.” It literally means “we shall see each other again.” But this phrase is not the best equivalent for “see you soon.”

1. See you soon in German — “Bis bald”

The literal translation of the German phrase “bis bald” is “until soon.” So, just like “see you soon” it holds the promise that you shall meet again in the near future.

2. Until later in German — “Bis später”

When using this phrase, native speakers assume you will indeed meet again. “Again” in this instance means later in the same day.

3. See you later in German — “Bis dann”

The literal translation of “bis dann” is “until then.” It differs from “bis später” in the sense that you probably will see each other again. But the exact time is left open. It could be later in the day, the next day or even next week.

4. We will see each other in German — “Wir sehen uns”

The phrase “wir sehen uns” also promises a reunion, but it is more vague about the time. So yes, you will meet again, but you don’t know when exactly.

see you soon in german: bis bald
See you soon in German: bis bald — Image by Kate Cox from Pixabay

5. Until next time in German — “Bis zum nächsten Mal”

Again, we assume that we will meet again. But when exactly, that is written in the stars.

6. Have a good day in German — “Schönen Tag noch”

With this expression, we no longer promise a reunion to our opposite party. But we still wish him or her a nice day.

7. Good weekend in German — “Schönes Wochenende”

When Germans part from each other on a Friday, quite often they wish each other a nice weekend. This figure of speech serves both as a good wish as well as a goodbye.

8. Good night in German — “Gute Nacht”

Mostly used at home, when you wish other members of your family a good night. But you may also hear people using it in public. For example, when they have been out with friends and take a last nightcap in a bar. Then one of them decides it’s time to leave and he or she might say “gute Nacht” as a farewell to the friends.

bis zum nächsten mal - until next time in German
Bis zum nächsten Mal – until next time in German — Image by Kate Cox from Pixabay

9. Northerners way to say Goodbye — “Tschüs”

Tschüs (sometimes also written as “Tschüss” or “Tschüß”) is a form of good bye used mostly in the Northern area of Germany. It stems from the Latin “ad deus”, meaning “to god.”

10. The universal greeting formula of the South — “Servus”

In Bavaria, Austria and some parts of Switzerland you will often hear the word “Servus.” This serves both as a greeting as well as a sendoff. But you should be careful and not use it elsewhere. In the North of Germany people might look puzzled or frown on you, when you use this typical greeting formula from deep down South.

Conclusion

When you want to learn German, you have now improved your skills with several different phrases for goodbye. When you’re keen on learning different phrases for saying “Guten Tag”, you should take a look at our article on “How to say Hello in German.”

I’m looking forward to seeing you again soon. Bis bald!