German - Goodbyes

Lesson 3 of 158

Learner smiling and waving goodbye while practicing common German farewell phrases.

Goal: Common ways to leave politely or casually

Free German lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Nice work getting to Lesson 3 — goodbyes are tiny social superpowers. This short lesson helps you hear, practice, and say common German farewells so you feel ready to leave a conversation with confidence.

Level A1: In this CEFR-aligned lesson you'll learn 13 everyday German goodbyes (formal and informal) like Auf Wiedersehen, Tschüss, Bis morgen, and Ich muss jetzt gehen. We'll listen, repeat, and practice these phrases in short quizzes and a mini-dialogue so you can leave conversations politely and naturally.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and say 13 common German goodbye phrases at Level A1.
  • Choose the right farewell for formal vs. casual situations.
  • Use short leave-taking sentences (e.g., Ich muss los., Es war schön, mit dir zu reden.).
Two friends in a café saying different goodbyes in German: formal and casual farewells.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Auf Wiedersehen.

Goodbye.

Meaning: Goodbye.

When to use: Use when you want a polite, standard farewell—good for strangers, shops, or formal situations.

Auf Wiedersehen, Frau Müller.
Goodbye, Mrs. Müller.
Auf Wiedersehen! Bis zum nächsten Mal.
Goodbye! See you next time.

Tschüss.

Bye.

Meaning: Bye.

When to use: Use with friends, colleagues, or anyone in a casual setting.

Tip: Avoid using Tschüss with very formal strangers or elders in formal settings.

Tschüss! Bis später.
Bye! See you later.
Tschüss, mach's gut!
Bye, take care!

Bis später.

See you later.

Meaning: See you later.

When to use: Say this when you expect to see or speak with the person later the same day.

Bis später — ich bin gegen fünf zurück.
See you later — I'll be back around five.
Okay, bis später!
Okay, see you later!

Bis morgen.

See you tomorrow.

Meaning: See you tomorrow.

When to use: Use when you will meet the person the next day, e.g., school or work.

Bis morgen! Viel Erfolg bei der Prüfung.
See you tomorrow! Good luck on the exam.
Wir sehen uns morgen — bis morgen!
We'll see each other tomorrow — see you tomorrow!

Mach's gut.

Take care.

Meaning: Take care.

When to use: Casual farewell used among friends or acquaintances to wish someone well.

Tip: Don't use Mach's gut in formal situations; the formal equivalent is 'Machen Sie's gut.'

Mach's gut! Ruf mich an, wenn du angekommen bist.
Take care! Call me when you arrive.
Mach's gut — bis bald!
Take care — see you soon!

Schönen Tag noch.

Have a good day.

Meaning: Have a good day.

When to use: Polite phrase when leaving a shop, office, or conversation during the day.

Schönen Tag noch! Vielen Dank für Ihre Hilfe.
Have a good day! Thank you for your help.
Dir auch einen schönen Tag!
Have a good day to you too!

Du auch

You too.

Meaning: You too.

When to use: Short response when someone wishes you well (informal).

Tip: In formal contexts use 'Sie auch.' instead of 'Du auch.'

Schönen Tag noch! — Du auch.
Have a good day! — You too.
Gute Nacht! — Du auch.
Good night! — You too.

Ich muss los.

I have to go.

Meaning: I have to go.

When to use: Say this when you need to end a conversation and leave; casual to neutral.

Ich muss los, das Meeting beginnt gleich.
I have to go, the meeting is starting soon.
Tut mir leid, ich muss los.
Sorry, I have to go.

Ich muss jetzt gehen.

I need to go now.

Meaning: I need to go now.

When to use: Clear, direct phrase to signal you are leaving immediately.

Ich muss jetzt gehen, mein Bus kommt.
I need to go now, my bus is coming.
Es war schön, aber ich muss jetzt gehen.
It was nice, but I need to go now.

Es war schön, mit dir zu reden.

It was nice talking to you.

Meaning: It was nice talking to you.

When to use: A warm, polite way to end a conversation, especially after a pleasant chat.

Es war schön, mit dir zu reden. Danke für das Gespräch.
It was nice talking to you. Thanks for the conversation.
Es war schön, mit dir zu reden — wir bleiben in Kontakt.
It was nice talking to you — we'll stay in touch.

Gute Nacht.

Good night.

Meaning: Good night.

When to use: Use when leaving late at night or before going to sleep.

Tip: Don't use 'Gute Nacht' as a general evening greeting; it's specifically for leaving at night or before bed.

Gute Nacht! Schlaf gut.
Good night! Sleep well.
Es ist spät — gute Nacht!
It's late — good night!

Wir hören uns später.

Talk to you later.

Meaning: Talk to you later.

When to use: Common for phone or text goodbyes when you'll contact the person again.

Okay, ich rufe dich später an. Wir hören uns später.
Okay, I'll call you later. Talk to you later.
Wir hören uns später — viel Erfolg!
Talk to you later — good luck!

Bis dann.

Bye for now.

Meaning: Bye for now.

When to use: Friendly temporary goodbye when you will meet again or resume soon.

Bis dann! Wir sehen uns im Büro.
Bye for now! We'll see each other at the office.
Ich gehe jetzt, bis dann!
I'm going now, bye for now!

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and David leaving a café after a quick chat

Anna and David stand by the door and exchange quick German goodbye lines.

Who says they need to leave now?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Es war schön, mit dir zu reden.

It was nice talking to you.

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Ja, total. Ich muss jetzt gehen.

Yes, absolutely. I need to go now.

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Okay — bis morgen?

Okay — see you tomorrow?

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Bis morgen! Mach's gut.

See you tomorrow! Take care.

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Du auch. Auf Wiedersehen!

You too. Goodbye!

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Tschüss!

Bye!

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which German phrase means 'See you tomorrow'?

Which phrase is a polite, standard goodbye suitable for formal situations?

You need to leave immediately. Which German phrase fits best?

Which phrase would you use on the phone to say you'll talk again later?

It's late and everyone is heading home. I should say 'Good night.'

It's late and everyone is heading home. I should say ___.

You and a coworker will meet again the next day, so you say 'See you tomorrow.'

You and a coworker will meet again the next day, so you say ___.

After arranging a call, you want to say 'Talk to you later' on the phone: 'Talk to you later.'

After arranging a call, you want to say 'Talk to you later' on the phone: ___

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Auf Wiedersehen.

Goodbye.

Say this phrase out loud:

Tschüss.

Bye.

Say this phrase out loud:

Bis später.

See you later.

Say this phrase out loud:

Bis morgen.

See you tomorrow.

Say this phrase out loud:

Mach's gut.

Take care.

Say this phrase out loud:

Schönen Tag noch.

Have a good day.

Say this phrase out loud:

Du auch

You too.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich muss los.

I have to go.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich muss jetzt gehen.

I need to go now.

Say this phrase out loud:

Es war schön, mit dir zu reden.

It was nice talking to you.

Say this phrase out loud:

Gute Nacht.

Good night.

Say this phrase out loud:

Wir hören uns später.

Talk to you later.

Say this phrase out loud:

Bis dann.

Bye for now.