German course

Lesson 9 of 240

New here? This is lesson 9 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Safe trip and take care in German

Priya is already a regular at Bäckerei Krause. This morning she ducks in with her backpack on, grabs a Schrippe, and turns for the U1 at Görlitzer Bahnhof.

Renate does not wait for a long goodbye. She sends Priya off with a short wish, and Anton stands as if she is leaving the city.

By the end, you'll wish someone well when they leave, travel, or head home.

Keep the lines short. Anton sits back down before Priya even reaches the corner.

By the end of this lesson

Wish someone well when they leave, travel, or head home.

  • Mach's gut.Take care
  • Gute Reise.Safe travels
  • Viel Glück.Good luck
  • Schönen Tag noch.Have a good day
  • Bis bald.See you soon
  • Bis zum nächsten Mal.See you next time

Scene — heading for the U-Bahn

Priya ducks into Bäckerei Krause with her backpack still on. The U1 at Görlitzer Bahnhof is two minutes away.

Renate is at the counter with flour on her arms. Anton sits at the corner table, Milchkaffee still full.

Priya has just entered the bakery with her backpack on while Renate works at the counter and Anton sits at the corner table.

Learn — take care and safe trip

Six short wishes cover take care, safe travels, good luck, and three ways to say see you.

You'll use them at the bakery door when someone leaves.

  1. Renate warmly sends Priya off as Priya turns toward the bakery door.

    Mach's gut.

    Take care

    When to use it: Say this when a friend or regular is heading out.

    Learn it as one piece when a friend is heading out.

  2. Renate leans toward the door to wish Priya safe travels.

    Gute Reise.

    Safe travels

    When to use it: Wish this when someone is leaving on a trip.

    Learn it as one piece for someone going on a trip.

    Say it: Reise puts the stress on the first syllable.

  3. Anton stands beside the corner table and offers Priya an encouraging send-off.

    Viel Glück.

    Good luck

    When to use it: Wish this when someone could use a bit of luck.

    Learn it as one piece when someone could use luck.

    Say it: Glück has a rounded ü, like ee with rounded lips.

  4. Priya looks back toward Renate as Renate gives her a polite farewell wave.

    Schönen Tag noch.

    Have a good day

    When to use it: Say this at the door during the day as they go.

    Learn it as one piece for a daytime goodbye.

    Say it: Schönen starts with sch, like sh in she.

  5. Priya steps out through the bakery doorway while looking back to wave at Renate.

    Bis bald.

    See you soon

    When to use it: Say this when you expect to see them soon.

    Learn it as one piece when you will meet again soon.

  6. Anton sits back down beside his still-full coffee after Priya has left.

    Bis zum nächsten Mal.

    See you next time

    When to use it: Say this when you will meet again another time.

    Learn it as one piece for see you next time.

    Say it: The ch in nächsten is the ich sound, not ach.

Story — he sits back down

Watch Priya leave for the U-Bahn. Renate keeps it short, and Anton wishes her a whole trip.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Priya still has her backpack on. Renate looks up from the counter.
  2. PriyaHallo.Hello.
  3. RenateGuten Morgen.Good morning.
  4. Priya turns back toward the door. The U1 will not wait.
  5. RenateMach's gut.Take care.
  6. PriyaBis bald.See you soon.
  7. Anton stands. One horn almost hits the lamp.
  8. AntonGute Reise.Safe travels.
  9. PriyaBis zum nächsten Mal.See you next time.
  10. He looks at the street, then at his two chairs.
  11. AntonViel Glück.Good luck.
  12. RenateSchönen Tag noch.Have a good day.
  13. PriyaSchönen Tag noch.Have a good day.
  14. Anton sits back down. The Milchkaffee is still full.

Practice — wish them well

Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Mach's gut.Drop the English here
    Gute Reise.Drop the English here
    Viel Glück.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    A friend from the bakery is heading out. Tell them to take care.

  4. Fill the gap

    Have a good day

    Schönen ____ noch.

  5. What does it mean?

    Viel Glück.

  6. Swap the word

    You will see them soon, not tomorrow.

    Bis ____.

  7. Pick the reply

    Renate says:

    Mach's gut.

    Take care.

    And you reply with:

  8. Build the line

    See you next time

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  9. Find the mistake

  10. Which one doesn’t belong?

  11. What do you say?

    It is morning and you have just stepped in. Greet Renate.

Say it — say it at the door

Now you're Priya at the bakery door, about to catch the U1. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. RenateMach's gut.Take care.
  2. Priya (you)Tell her you will see her soon.

    Bis bald.

    See you soon

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Mach's gut.Take care
Gute Reise.Safe travels
Viel Glück.Good luck
Schönen Tag noch.Have a good day
Bis bald.See you soon
Bis zum nächsten Mal.See you next time
Next: lesson 10Have a nice evening

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