Good Night in German: Gute Nacht, Schlaf gut, and Sweet Dreams
Good night
Gute Nacht
Good night in German is Gute Nacht. You say it to someone who is going to bed: your partner, your children, your host family. That is the whole rule, and it is the rule most learners break. If you leave a restaurant at 11 pm, you do not say Gute Nacht. You say Tschüss or Schönen Abend noch.
The list below has the bedtime phrases with audio, including Schlaf gut (sleep well) and Süße Träume (sweet dreams), the replies, and the evening phrases you should use instead of Gute Nacht when you are just leaving.
Ways to say good night in German
Gute Nacht is the standard. Schlaf gut and the dream wishes are what families and couples say. The last two are what you say when leaving in the evening without going to bed.
| German | English | Note | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gute Nacht Only when someone is going to bed | Good night | Only when someone is going to bed | |
| Schlaf gut Informal, to one person | Sleep well | Informal, to one person | |
| Schlaft gut Informal, to more than one person | Sleep well | Informal, to more than one person | |
| Schlafen Sie gut Formal, for example to a hotel guest | Sleep well | Formal, for example to a hotel guest | |
| Träum was Schönes Informal. Literally "dream something nice" | Sweet dreams | Informal. Literally "dream something nice" | |
| Süße Träume Informal, warm | Sweet dreams | Informal, warm | |
| Bis morgen Works at bedtime and when leaving | See you tomorrow | Works at bedtime and when leaving | |
| Schönen Abend noch When leaving in the evening. Not a bedtime phrase | Have a nice evening | When leaving in the evening. Not a bedtime phrase | |
| Gute Nacht, ich gehe ins Bett The full sentence | Good night, I am going to bed | The full sentence | |
| Nacht! Clipped, very informal | Night! | Clipped, very informal | |
| Gut's Nächtle Swabian, southwest Germany | Good night | Swabian, southwest Germany |
How to reply to Gute Nacht
Answer with the same phrase or with a short "you too".
| German | English | Note | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gute Nacht The reply to Gute Nacht is Gute Nacht | Good night | The reply to Gute Nacht is Gute Nacht | |
| Du auch Informal | You too | Informal | |
| Danke, gleichfalls A little more polite | Thanks, same to you | A little more polite | |
| Schlaf gut Informal | Sleep well | Informal |
Example sentences
Gute Nacht, bis morgen!
Good night, see you tomorrow!
Schlaf gut und träum was Schönes.
Sleep well and sweet dreams.
Ich bin müde. Ich gehe ins Bett. Gute Nacht!
I am tired. I am going to bed. Good night!
Schlafen Sie gut, Herr Schmidt.
Sleep well, Mr Schmidt.
Schönen Abend noch! Danke, gleichfalls.
Have a nice evening! Thanks, you too.
Gute Nacht, Mama. Gute Nacht, mein Schatz.
Good night, Mum. Good night, my darling.
Good to know
Gute Nacht is only for bedtime
This is the mistake to avoid. Gute Nacht means the other person is about to sleep. If you leave a restaurant, a bar, or a friend's house in the evening, say Tschüss, Schönen Abend noch (have a nice evening), or Auf Wiedersehen. A waiter who hears Gute Nacht will smile, because it sounds like you are putting them to bed.
Guten Abend is the greeting, Gute Nacht is the farewell
When you arrive in the evening, say Guten Abend (good evening). Gute Nacht is never a greeting. English uses "good night" for both leaving and bedtime; German does not.
Gute, not Guten
It is Guten Morgen, Guten Tag, Guten Abend, but Gute Nacht. Nacht is feminine (die Nacht), so the adjective ending changes. If you say Guten Nacht, everyone will understand, but it marks you as a beginner.
The ch sound
Nacht has the hard ch sound made in the back of the throat, like the Scottish "loch". It is not a k. Nacht (night) with ch and nackt (naked) with ck are different words, so it is worth getting right.
Schlaf gut changes with the person
Schlaf gut is for one person you address as du. Schlaft gut is for several people. Schlafen Sie gut is the formal form. The wish for sweet dreams, Träum was Schönes, is only used informally.
Practice with flashcards
This phrase and 120 more as cards. See the English, say the German, flip to check. Free, no signup.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say good night in German?
Is it Gute Nacht or Guten Nacht?
Can I say Gute Nacht when leaving a restaurant?
What is the difference between Guten Abend and Gute Nacht?
How do you say sweet dreams in German?
How do you reply to Gute Nacht?
Continue learning
Common German Phrases
Greetings, goodbyes, please and thank you, yes and no, and more, all with audio
German Phrases Flashcards
Drill the common phrases from English to German
Hello in German
Hello and Hi in German: Hallo, Guten Tag, and the Regional Greetings
Good morning in German
Good Morning in German: Guten Morgen, Morgen, and Moin
Thank you in German
Thank You in German: Danke, Danke schön, and Vielen Dank
Yes in German
Yes in German: Ja, Doch, Genau, and the Other Ways to Agree
No in German
No in German: Nein, Nicht, Kein, and the Casual Nee
You're welcome in German
You're Welcome in German: Bitte, Bitte schön, and Gern geschehen
How are you in German
How Are You in German: Wie geht's, Wie geht es dir, Wie geht es Ihnen
Goodbye in German
Goodbye in German: Auf Wiedersehen, Tschüss, and Bis bald
Cheers in German
Cheers in German: Prost, Zum Wohl, and Other Toasts
Please in German
Please in German: Bitte and Its Four Meanings
Excuse me in German
Excuse Me in German: Entschuldigung, Entschuldigen Sie, and Verzeihung
Sorry in German
Sorry in German: Es tut mir leid, Entschuldigung, and How to Apologize
Good evening in German
Good Evening in German: Guten Abend, Schönen Abend, and Guten Tag
Welcome in German
Welcome in German: Willkommen and Herzlich willkommen
My name is in German
My Name Is in German: Ich heiße, Ich bin, and Mein Name ist
Happy birthday in German
Happy Birthday in German: Alles Gute zum Geburtstag and Herzlichen Glückwunsch
I love you in German
I Love You in German: Ich liebe dich, Ich hab dich lieb, and Mein Schatz