Short answer: "goodbye" in German is Auf Wiedersehen, or Tschüss depending on the situation.
Auf Wiedersehen, the core translation
The default way to say "goodbye" in German is Auf Wiedersehen. Pronounced roughly owf VEE-der-zayn.
When German speakers actually use it
"Tschüss" is casual and by far the most common in daily life.
Alternative: Tschüss
Tschüss is the other option German speakers reach for in this situation. It's not a synonym so much as a register shift, use the one that matches who you're talking to.
Practice this in a real German conversation
Reading a phrase and saying it out loud are two different skills. Skala's AI conversations let you drop "Auf Wiedersehen" into a real German exchange in your first 3-minute lesson, so it sticks the first time.
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FAQ
What's the most polite way to say "goodbye" in German?
Both Auf Wiedersehen and Tschüss are polite. Pick based on who you're talking to: register, not translation, is what natives are tuning into.
How do I pronounce Auf Wiedersehen?
Roughly owf VEE-der-zayn. Recording yourself once and comparing to a native audio inside Skala closes the gap faster than reading pronunciation guides.