auf Wiedersehen

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word auf Wiedersehen. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word auf Wiedersehen, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say auf Wiedersehen in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word auf Wiedersehen you have here. The definition of the word auf Wiedersehen will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofauf Wiedersehen, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Etymology

Borrowed from German auf Wiedersehen (“goodbye”).

Interjection

auf Wiedersehen

  1. Used to express farewell.
  2. Until we see each other again; goodbye.

German

Alternative forms

Etymology

Literally, “until our reunion; that we may see again”. Probably a calque of French au revoir. Compare further Italian arrivederci, German Low German up Wiederseihen (Paderbornisch), Dutch tot ziens, English until we meet again and see you, and similar forms in many languages of the world.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /aʊ̯f ˈviːdɐˌzeː(ə)n/
  • Audio(file)

Phrase

auf Wiedersehen

  1. goodbye
    Synonyms: auf Wiederschauen, tschüss, tschö, tschau; bis dann, bis bald, bis später; mach's gut, macht's gut, machen Sie's gut
    Antonyms: guten Morgen, guten Tag, guten Abend, hallo, grüß Gott
    • 1918, Elisabeth von Heyking, Die Orgelpfeifen (Zwei Erzählungen; 1), Phillipp Reclam jun., pages 63–64:
      Und während die beiden Enkel auf dem Bahnhof mit festem Händedruck und einem „Auf Wiedersehen!“ voneinander Abschied nahmen und jeder seines Weges seinem Geschick entgegenschritt, sann Großmama in dem der Heimat zurollenden Zuge nach, wie schön alles werden sollte, […]
      And while the two grandchildren bid farewell to each other on the station with a firm handshake and a "Goodbye!" and each walked his way toward his fate, grandma contemplated in the homeward rolling train how beautiful everything should become

Usage notes

  • Auf Wiedersehen is fairly formal in German; it is unlikely to be used between close friends and family members. It is usually used only with people one would address as Sie, not with those one would address as du.

Derived terms

Further reading

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia