Parting phrase

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Parting phrases are elements of parting traditions, phrases used to acknowledge the parting of individuals or groups of people from each other.

Parting phrases are specific to culture and situation, varying between persons based on social status and personal relationship.

Examples

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In English, there are formal and informal ways of saying goodbye. In day-to-day speech, people also sometimes use foreign parting phrases like Ciao, Arrivederci, Au revoir, Adieu, Auf Wiedersehen, Tschüss, Hasta la vista, Hasta mañana, Sayonara.

• "Catch ya later", "Catch you later", "Catch ya", "Check ya later"
• "Cheerio", "Cheers"
• "Farewell" or formally "Fare thee well" (archaic)
• "Godspeed"
• "Good-bye", "Bye", "Bye-bye" ("Good-bye" is a shortened form of "God be with Ye".)
• "Good day", "Good day to you", "I say good day to you sir"
• "Good luck"
• "Goodnight"
• "Have a good one"
• "Have a nice day"
• "Have fun" (Colloquial, primarily British English)
• "Keep it relevant"
• "K-Den" ("Okay then" [Hawaii pidgin]
• "See you later, alligator", or less formally "Later gator" (to which the response is often "After a while, crocodile")
• "Peace" or "Peace out"
• "See you later", "See you", "See ya", "Later" (colloquially, "Laters" or "S'later")
• "See you on the flip side", "Catch you on the flip side"
• "Shoots" or "Shoots 'den" [Hawaii pidgin]
• "So long"
• "Spot you later", "Spot ya", "Spotcha"
• "Stay up" or "Stay strong" (Colloquial) [Parting phrase spoken to inspire perseverance or used as a term of consolation upon closure to a social affair.]
• Ta-da (informal)
• Ta-ra (informal)
• "Ta Ta" (informal), TTFN (Ta ta for now)
• "Take it easy"
• "Take care"
• "Talk to you later"
• "Tootles" "Toodaloo" "Toodledoo" (from the French phrase à tout à l'heure)

Traditionally, among religious adherents, parting phrases are used in reference to faith. Some examples are:

• "Shalom" (used among Jews), "Peace"
• "Khuda Hafiz" (used among Iranian and South Asian Muslims), "God protect (you)"
• "As-Salamu Alaykum" (used among Muslims and Arab), "Peace be upon you"

Written

Most of spoken phrases may also be used in written communication, but there are some specialized ones.

Various cultures historically have elaborate epistolary traditions, in particular how to end a letter, which is seen as a parting with the invisible partner in dialogue.

See also

• Greeting
• Salutation
• Valediction

References

• The Oxford Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases (1997), Jennifer Speake, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0198631596