Breakdown of Ich arbeite jetzt. Auf Wiedersehen!
ich
I
jetzt
now
arbeiten
to work
Auf Wiedersehen
goodbye (formal)
Questions & Answers about Ich arbeite jetzt. Auf Wiedersehen!
Why does it say "Ich arbeite" instead of something like "Ich bin arbeiten" for "I am working"?
In German, there is no separate "am doing" or "is doing" form like we have in English. Ich arbeite translates to both "I work" and "I am working". Adding jetzt (now) makes it perfectly clear that the action is happening right at this moment.
What does "Auf Wiedersehen" literally mean?
It literally translates to "until we see each other again." Auf here acts like "until", wieder means "again", and sehen means "to see". Over time, this phrase became the standard way to say a polite goodbye.
Why is "Wiedersehen" capitalized?
In German, every single noun (a person, place, thing, or concept) is always capitalized. In this greeting, the action word wiedersehen (to see again) has been turned into a noun meaning "the seeing again", so it must get a capital letter.
When should I use "Auf Wiedersehen" instead of just saying "Tschüss"?
Auf Wiedersehen is the formal and polite way to say goodbye. You use it in shops, at work, or with people you don't know well. Tschüss is much more casual and is used with friends, family, and people your own age.