Parting phrase

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

In English, there are formal and informal way of saying goodbye. In day-to-day speech, people also sometimes use foreign parting phrases like Ciao.

• "Cheerio" (British English), "Cheers"
• "Farewell" or formally "Fare thee well" (archaic)
• "Good-bye", "Bye", "Bye-bye" ("Good-bye" is a shortened form of "God be with ye".)
• "Have a good one"
• "Have a nice day"
• "Peace" or "Peace out"
• "See you later", "See you", "See ya", "Later" (colloquially, "Laters")
• "Stay up" or "Stay strong" (Colloquially) [Parting phrase spoken to inspire perseverance or used as a term of consolation upon closure to a social affair.]
• Ta-ra (informal) Colloquialism spoken mainly in North West England and parts of Wales.
• "Take it easy", "Take care"
• "Talk to you later"
• "Tootles" "Toodaloo" "Toodledoo"

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

• "Khuda Hafiz" (used among South Asian Muslims), "God protect (you)"
• "As-Salamu Alaykum" (used among Muslims, Arab Christians and Jews), "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 dialog.

See also

• Greeting
• Salutation
• Valediction

References

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