Unlike a joyful hello, saying goodbye can be hard! But it’s an important skill to learn in any new language.
Here’s everything you need to know about saying goodbye in English!
Ways to say goodbye in English
There are so many ways to say goodbye in English! Which one you choose depends on many factors including the formality of the situation, the time of day, whether you’re talking in person or on the phone, and how soon you’ll see the person again. Here are 23 options so you can always find the perfect farewell:
| WORD OR PHRASE | SITUATION |
|---|---|
| Goodbye! | Classic but a little formal |
| Bye! | Neutral |
| Bye-bye! | Informal, commonly used with young kids |
| Have a great day! Have a great afternoon! Have a great evening! Have a great night! |
Friendly |
| Good night! | Used at the end of the night |
| See you later! See you tomorrow! See you next week! |
Friendly |
| See ya! | Very informal, short for “See you later!” |
| Later! | Very informal, short for “See you later!” |
| Later skater! | Very informal and playful, comes from “See you later, skater!” |
| Take it easy! | Friendly and informal |
| Catch you on the flip side! | Playful and very informal |
| Catch ya later! | Playful and very informal |
| Ciao! | Informal, from Italian |
| Adios! | Informal, from Spanish |
| Farewell! | Very formal and somewhat old-fashioned, often used sarcastically or when you won’t see the person again |
| So long! | Somewhat informal |
| Peace out! Peace! |
Very informal, most commonly used by young people |
| Cheers! | Informal, most commonly used in the UK, Australia and New Zealand |
| Toodle-oo! | Silly, playful and quite old-fashioned (possibly from French à tout à l’heure, “see you later”), most common in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand |
| I’ve got to run! | Used when you need to make a quick exit |
| Stay safe! | Friendly |
| Be well! | Friendly |
| Take care of yourself! | Friendly |
There are some informal terms you’ll only see in writing, such as text messages or on social media. These include:
- TTYL!, an acronym for Talk to you later!
- TTFN!, an acronym for Ta-ta for now!
- Cya!, a shorter way to spell See ya!
Looking for a fun way to say bye to a kid? You might want to try out the popular and playful rhyming phrase See you later, alligator! And don’t be surprised if you get the equally silly In a while, crocodile! in response.
Customs and culture for saying bye
It is believed that goodbye comes from the phrase “God be with ye,” which was contracted to goodbye in the 16th century. Today, of course, the term doesn’t have any religious connotations, and it’s used by all!
Cultural norms around saying goodbye vary in different English-speaking parts of the world. Even within the United States, goodbyes can differ widely by culture and region. Still, compared to much of the rest of the world, goodbyes in the U.S. tend to be relatively quick and often informal. A quick Bye! often suffices. However, in more formal situations, a goodbye might be accompanied by a handshake. The American habit of hugging (not just family but also friends!) may take some getting used to for those from less hug-prone cultures 😉 Meanwhile, kisses on the cheek when saying goodbye tend to be reserved for family or very close friends.
Ta-ta for now!
Well, all good things, including this blog post, must come to an end! So until next time, toodle-oo, cheers, and catch you on the flip side!