goodbye

interj.
Used to express an acknowledgment of parting.

n., pl., -byes, or -byes, also -bys.

1. An acknowledgment at parting, especially by saying "goodbye."
2. An act of parting or leave-taking: many sad goodbyes.

[Alteration (influenced by good day) of God be with you.]

WORD HISTORY   No doubt more than one reader has wondered exactly how goodbye is derived from the phrase "God be with you." To understand this, it is helpful to see earlier forms of the expression, such as God be wy you, god b'w'y, godbwye, god buy' ye, and good-b'wy. The first word of the expression is now good and not God, for good replaced God by analogy with such expressions as good day, perhaps after people no longer had a clear idea of the original sense of the expression. A letter of 1573 written by Gabriel Harvey contains the first recorded use of goodbye: "To requite your gallonde [gallon] of godbwyes, I regive you a pottle of howdyes," recalling another contraction that is still used.

also good-by

noun

A separation of two or more people: adieu, farewell, leave-taking, parting, valediction. See approach/retreat.

adjective

Of, done, given, or said on departing: departing, farewell, parting, valedictory. See approach/retreat.

n

Definition: farewell statement
Antonyms: hello

---

IN BRIEF: n. - A farewell remark.

Good-byes breed a sort of distaste for whomever you say good-bye to. — Elizabeth Bowen, Source: The House in Paris

Dansk (Danish)
int. - farvel
n. - farvel

idioms:

• say goodbye    sige farvel

Français (French)
int. - au revoir, adieu
n. - au revoir, adieu

idioms:

• say goodbye    dire au revoir (à qn), dire adieu (à qn)

Deutsch (German)
int. - auf Wiedersehen, auf Wiederhören
n. - Abschied, Lebewohl

idioms:

• say goodbye    sich verabschieden, Abschied nehmen

Ελληνική (Greek)
int. - αντίο! γεια σου!
n. - αποχαιρετισμός

idioms:

• say goodbye    αποχαιρετώ

Italiano (Italian)
arrivederci, addio, commiato

idioms:

• say/wave goodbye    prendere commiato, dire/fare addio

Português (Portuguese)
int. - Adeus!
n. - adeus (m)

idioms:

• say/wave goodbye    dizer adeus

Русский (Russian)
прощание, до свидания

idioms:

• say/wave goodbye    прощаться

Español (Spanish)
int. - adiós, hasta la vista, hasta luego, hasta pronto
n. - adiós, despedida

idioms:

• say goodbye    despedirse de alguien

Svenska (Swedish)
int. - adjö, farväl
n. - adjö, farväl

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
再见, 告别

idioms:

• say goodbye    告别

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
int. - 再見
n. - 告別

idioms:

• say goodbye    告別

한국어 (Korean)
int. - 안녕!
n. - 헤어지는 인사, 작별

日本語 (Japanese)
int. - さようなら

idioms:

• say/wave goodbye    別れを告げる

עברית (Hebrew)
int. - ‮שלום!‬
n. - ‮ברכת פרידה‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.

say goodnight not goodbye