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How to Say ‘Goodbye’ in German

Auf Wiedersehen

owf VEE-der-zay-en

[owf VEE-der-zay-en]

💬 Usage Tip: The phrase literally means "until seeing again": wieder "again" plus sehen "see". On the phone you'll hear Auf Wiederhören "until hearing again".

🇩🇪 In Germany: It's the safe, polite goodbye for shops, offices and doctors' surgeries.

Phrase Breakdown

Auf

[owf]

until / to (in farewells)

Preposition used in formulas like 'see you again'.

Example

Auf bald!

See you soon!

Wiedersehen

[VEE-der-zay-en]

seeing again

This word means 'seeing again' and completes the formal goodbye phrase.

Example

Zu Kunden sagt man oft Auf Wiedersehen.

People often say Goodbye to customers.

Guides for German learners

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