How to Say Goodbye in Different Languages: Common Farewells Around the World

Learning simple farewell expressions is one of the easiest ways to start communicating in a new language.

While many languages have a direct translation for “goodbye,” native speakers often use different expressions depending on the situation, relationship, and culture.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to say goodbye in different languages, including common formal and informal farewell expressions from Europe, Asia, Africa, and other regions around the world.

TL;DR

Here are some common ways to say goodbye around the world:

These examples show an important pattern:

Many languages do not use a direct translation of “goodbye.” Instead, farewell expressions often mean:

• see you again
• stay safe
• go well
• until next time

The best goodbye expression depends on:

• who you are speaking to
• the level of formality
• the relationship between speakers
• the culture of the language

How we selected these farewell expressions

The expressions in this guide focus on:

• common everyday usage
• beginner-friendly phrases
• formal and informal situations
• expressions that learners are most likely to hear in real conversations

Language changes by region, so some countries and communities may use additional farewell expressions.

How to say goodbye in European languages

English 🇬🇧🇺🇸

English has several common ways to say goodbye.

Examples:

Goodbye, it was nice meeting you.

Bye! See you tomorrow.

In everyday English, “Bye” is much more common than the longer “goodbye.”

If you want to learn more natural English farewell expressions, check out:

Different Ways to Say Goodbye in English

Spanish 🇪🇸🇲🇽

Spanish has several ways to say goodbye depending on the situation.

Examples:

¡Adiós! Que tengas un buen día.

(Goodbye! Have a good day.)

Nos vemos mañana.

(See you tomorrow.)

Interestingly, many Spanish speakers use expressions meaning “see you later” instead of a final goodbye, because they sound warmer and more connected.

French 🇫🇷

French farewell expressions change depending on formality.

Examples:

Au revoir, Madame.

Salut, à bientôt!

French learners should remember that salut works both as “hello” and “bye” in casual situations.

For French learners, knowing everyday farewell expressions helps you communicate naturally from the beginning.

German 🇩🇪

German has clear differences between formal and informal goodbyes.

Examples:

Auf Wiedersehen, Herr Schmidt.

Tschüss! Bis morgen.

The phrase Auf Wiedersehen literally means something like “until seeing each other again,” showing the idea that the goodbye is not necessarily permanent.

If you are learning German, understanding everyday expressions is an important step after learning basic vocabulary.

Continue learning with our dedicated guide:

How to Say Goodbye in German

Italian 🇮🇹

Italian has several common farewell expressions.

Examples:

Arrivederci!

Ciao, ci vediamo presto.

The word ciao is one of the most internationally recognized Italian words. However, it is mainly used in informal situations.

Portuguese 🇵🇹🇧🇷

Portuguese goodbye expressions vary slightly between Portugal and Brazil.

In Brazil, tchau is extremely common in everyday conversations.

Example:

Tchau! Até amanhã.

(Bye! See you tomorrow.)

Dutch 🇳🇱

Examples:

Tot ziens!

Doei, tot morgen!

Dutch has many similarities with English and German, which makes some expressions easier for speakers of those languages to recognize.

If you are learning Dutch, you can explore more common farewell expressions in our dedicated guide:

How to Say Goodbye in Dutch: Common Farewells

Nordic languages 🇸🇪🇳🇴🇩🇰🇫🇮

The Nordic countries share some similarities between their languages, but each has its own natural way to say goodbye.

Swedish 🇸🇪

Examples:

Hej då! Vi ses imorgon.

(Bye! See you tomorrow.)

In Swedish, hej can mean both “hello” and “hi,” while hej då specifically means goodbye.

Norwegian 🇳🇴

Examples:

Ha det bra!

(Take care!)

Norwegian speakers often use ha det in daily conversations because it sounds friendly and natural.

Danish 🇩🇰

Example:

Farvel, vi ses snart.

(Goodbye, see you soon.)

Finnish 🇫🇮

Finnish has a particularly interesting farewell expression:

Näkemiin

Näkemiin carries the idea of “until we see each other again.”

This idea is similar to many other European languages where goodbye expresses the hope of meeting again.

Eastern European languages

Russian 🇷🇺

Russian has several farewell expressions depending on the situation.

Examples:

До свидания!

(Goodbye.)

Пока!

(Bye!)

For beginners, До свидания is the safest choice because it works in most polite situations.

Polish 🇵🇱

Polish is interesting because Cześć works both as a greeting and a farewell among friends.

Czech 🇨🇿

Example:

Na shledanou!

(Goodbye.)

For more Czech farewell expressions, including formal and casual situations, see:

Goodbye in Czech Language: Formal and Casual Farewells

Greek 🇬🇷

Greek uses Γεια σου in many everyday situations because it can mean both hello and goodbye.

Asian languages

Asian languages often have more complex farewell systems because politeness levels and social relationships play a major role.

Chinese 🇨🇳

In Mandarin Chinese, the most common goodbye expression is:

Example:

再见！

(Zàijiàn!)

The characters 再见 literally mean:

• 再 = again
• 见 = see

So the expression carries the idea of:

“See you again.”

This is similar to many goodbye expressions around the world.

If you are learning Mandarin Chinese, you can continue practicing everyday expressions with our beginner guide:

How to Say Bye Bye in Chinese (With Tone Tips & Examples)

Japanese 🇯🇵

Japanese has several farewell expressions depending on the situation, relationship, and how long you expect to be apart.

Many beginners learn さようなら (Sayōnara) first because it is the standard translation of “goodbye.”

However, in everyday Japanese conversations, native speakers often use shorter expressions when they expect to meet again soon, such as:

• またね (Mata ne) — See you
• じゃあね (Jā ne) — Bye
• また明日 (Mata ashita) — See you tomorrow

A common beginner mistake is using さようなら in every situation. While it is correct, it can sound more formal or suggest a longer separation, depending on the context.

The best expression depends on your relationship with the other person and whether you plan to meet again soon.

If you are learning Japanese, understanding everyday expressions is just as important as learning vocabulary and grammar.

Korean 🇰🇷

Korean goodbye expressions change depending on whether the person leaving is the speaker or the listener.

This difference is important for Korean learners.

Korean does not simply use one universal “goodbye.”

The expression changes depending on the situation:

• The person leaving → 안녕히 가세요
• The person staying → 안녕히 계세요

This distinction is one of the first cultural differences Korean learners notice because English uses one general “goodbye,” while Korean considers whether someone is leaving or staying.

Thai 🇹🇭

Thai often uses polite particles depending on the speaker’s gender:

• ครับ (khrap) for male speakers
• ค่ะ / คะ (kha) for female speakers

Vietnamese 🇻🇳

Vietnamese farewell expressions often include the idea of meeting again.

Indonesian 🇮🇩

Indonesian distinguishes between leaving and staying situations.

For example:

• Selamat tinggal is used when someone leaves.
• Selamat jalan can be used when wishing someone a safe journey.

Hindi 🇮🇳

Many Indian languages use expressions that emphasize meeting again rather than a final goodbye.

Arabic 🌍

Arabic is spoken across many countries, and goodbye expressions can vary by region.

The phrase مع السلامة literally carries the meaning of wishing someone safety and peace.

Turkish 🇹🇷

Turkish has an interesting distinction:

• Hoşça kal → said by the person leaving
• Güle güle → said by the person staying

This reflects how the language pays attention to the relationship between the speaker and listener.

African languages

Farewell expressions in many African languages often reflect ideas of respect, safety, and staying connected.

Swahili 🌍

Swahili is widely spoken in East Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and surrounding regions.

Example:

Kwaheri! Tutaonana tena.

(Goodbye! We will see each other again.)

Swahili farewell expressions often emphasize future meetings rather than separation.

Afrikaans 🇿🇦

Afrikaans is mainly spoken in South Africa and Namibia.

Example:

Totsiens, tot môre!

(Goodbye, see you tomorrow.)

Afrikaans has many similarities with Dutch, so some expressions may look familiar to Dutch speakers.

Zulu 🇿🇦

Similar to Korean, Turkish, and Indonesian, Zulu distinguishes between the person leaving and the person staying.

This shows an interesting pattern across languages:

Many cultures do not view goodbye as a simple ending. They focus on wishing the other person safety and wellbeing.

Goodbye expressions that do not literally mean “goodbye”

One interesting thing about languages around the world is that many farewell expressions are not direct translations of “goodbye.”

Instead, they express ideas like:

• see you again
• take care
• stay well
• go safely
• until next time

Here are some examples:

These expressions reveal something important:

Many cultures see farewell as a temporary separation rather than a final ending.

How beginners should practice farewell expressions

When learning a new language, don’t memorize only the word “goodbye.”

Learn three things together:

1. The expression itself
2. When native speakers use it
3. A complete example situation

For example:

German:

Formal: Auf Wiedersehen.

Used in:

• shops
• workplaces
• polite conversations

Casual: Tschüss!

Used with:

• friends
• classmates
• people you know

Learning expressions in context helps you choose the right phrase naturally instead of translating word by word.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common way to say goodbye?

The most common goodbye depends on the language and culture.

However, the expression people use most often in daily conversations is usually the shorter, more casual form.

• English: Goodbye / Bye
• Spanish: Adiós
• French: Au revoir
• German: Auf Wiedersehen
• Chinese: 再见
• Japanese: さようなら

However, everyday speakers often use shorter or more casual expressions.

Is “bye” used in other languages?

Yes.

Many languages have adopted a version of the English word “bye,” especially among younger speakers and in informal communication.

Examples:

• Chinese: 拜拜 (Báibái)
• Japanese: バイバイ (Baibai)
• Korean: 바이바이 (Baibai)

However, traditional local expressions are still important in formal situations.

Do all languages have a word for goodbye?

Languages around the world have ways to express farewell, although not every language uses a single word that directly translates to “goodbye.”

Some languages prefer expressions that mean:

• see you again
• stay safe
• go well
• until next time

The idea of saying farewell exists everywhere, but the expression reflects each culture.

Which goodbye should I learn first?

Start with the goodbye expression that matches your learning goal.

For example:

• Traveling → learn polite and common expressions
• Making friends → learn casual expressions
• Business → learn formal expressions

The most useful goodbye is not always the most literal translation—it is the one native speakers actually use.

Final thoughts

Learning how to say goodbye in different languages is a small step, but it creates meaningful connections.

A simple farewell can show respect, curiosity, and appreciation for another culture.

You do not need to memorize hundreds of phrases.

Start with a few languages that interest you:

• learn the pronunciation
• understand when to use each expression
• practice it in real situations

Every new language you explore gives you another way to connect with people around the world.

A simple “hello” starts a conversation.

A thoughtful “goodbye” leaves a lasting impression.