Parting phrase
Encyclopedia
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.
, there are formal and informal ways of saying goodbye. In day-to-day speech, people also sometimes use foreign parting phrases like ciao
and arrivederci (Italian), au revoir and bon voyage (French), auf wiedersehen and tschüss (German), adiós, hasta la vista, hasta luego, and hasta mañana (Spanish), shalom (Hebrew), sayōnara (Japanese), and aloha (Hawaiian).
Some phrases, such as "Live long and prosper
", "May the Force be with you
" and "I'll be back." are taken from films. Furthermore, all holiday greetings (such as "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Easter") can act as parting phrases.
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
.
In English, letters are ended with the sender's name (for example, John Doe). Thus, common epistolary parting phrases include:
Parting phrases are specific to culture and situation, varying between persons based on social status and personal relationship.
Examples
In EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, there are formal and informal ways of saying goodbye. In day-to-day speech, people also sometimes use foreign parting phrases like ciao
Ciao
The word "ciao" is an informal Italian verbal salutation or greeting, meaning either "hello", "goodbye", "bye" or "hi". Originally from the Venetian language, it was adopted into the Italian language and eventually entered the vocabulary of English and of many other languages around the world...
and arrivederci (Italian), au revoir and bon voyage (French), auf wiedersehen and tschüss (German), adiós, hasta la vista, hasta luego, and hasta mañana (Spanish), shalom (Hebrew), sayōnara (Japanese), and aloha (Hawaiian).
Generic ways to say goodbye
Other, more specific phrases
Religious and traditional parting phrases
- "As-Salamu AlaykumAs-Salamu AlaykumAs-Salāmu `Alaykum is a traditional Muslim greeting, often translated as Peace be upon you.-Usage:*In Arabia, the greeting is associated with shaking right hands and then possibly two or three light cheek to cheek kisses....
" or "SalamS-L-MShin-Lamedh-Mem is the triconsonantal root of many Semitic words, and many of those words are used as names. The root itself translates as "whole, safe, intact".-Salam "Peace":...
" (used among Muslims and ArabArabArab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
), "Peace be upon you" - "ShalomShalomShalom is a Hebrew word meaning peace, completeness, and welfare and can be used idiomatically to mean both hello and goodbye...
" (used among JewsJewsThe Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
), "Peace" - "Khuda HafizKhuda HafizKhuda Hafiz , usually shortened to Khodafez in Persian, is a parting phrase traditionally used in Persia, Kurdistan, and the Indian subcontinent...
" (used among IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian and South Asian Muslims), "God protect (you)" - "Waheguru Ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji ki Fateh" (used among Sikhs), "KhalsaKhalsa+YouWebImagesVideosMapsNewsMailMoreTranslateFrom: ArabicTo: EnglishEnglishHindiEnglishAllow phonetic typingHindiEnglishArabicAssumptionGoogle Translate for Business:Translator ToolkitWebsite TranslatorGlobal Market Finder...
belongs to WaheguruWaheguruWaheguru is a term most often used in Sikhism to refer to God, the Supreme Being or the creator of all. It means "The Good/Best Teacher" in the Punjabi language. Wahi means "good" and "Guru" is a term denoting "teacher"....
; Victory is gifted by WaheguruWaheguruWaheguru is a term most often used in Sikhism to refer to God, the Supreme Being or the creator of all. It means "The Good/Best Teacher" in the Punjabi language. Wahi means "good" and "Guru" is a term denoting "teacher"....
" - "Blessed BeBlessed BeBlessed Be is the sixth studio album released in 2000 by the band The 69 Eyes. It was produced by Gaga Goodies/Poko Rekords.This album is more gothic rock influenced, leaving behind the "sleazy" lyrics seen in their earlier works...
" (used among many PagansPaganismPaganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
as a greeting or a parting phrase) - "Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again," is a common parting phrase among WiccaWiccaWicca , is a modern Pagan religious movement. Developing in England in the first half of the 20th century, Wicca was popularised in the 1950s and early 1960s by a Wiccan High Priest named Gerald Gardner, who at the time called it the "witch cult" and "witchcraft," and its adherents "the Wica."...
practitioners
Some phrases, such as "Live long and prosper
Vulcan salute
The Vulcan salute is a hand gesture consisting of a raised hand, palm forward with the fingers parted between the middle and ring finger, and the thumb extended. Often, the famous line, "Live long and prosper", is said after it. The salute was devised and popularised by Leonard Nimoy, who...
", "May the Force be with you
May the Force be with you
The expression "May the Force be with you" has achieved cult status and is symbolic of the Star Wars legacy. The line has been said by at least one character in each of the Star Wars movies...
" and "I'll be back." are taken from films. Furthermore, all holiday greetings (such as "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Easter") can act as parting phrases.
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
Dialogue
Dialogue is a literary and theatrical form consisting of a written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people....
.
In English, letters are ended with the sender's name (for example, John Doe). Thus, common epistolary parting phrases include: