goodbye

Goodbye is a common expression used to indicate parting or the end of an interaction. It can be used in person, on the telephone, or in writing, and may convey well-wishes, sadness, or formality.

The term originates from the English phrase "God be with ye/you," which over time was contracted and standardized as "goodbye" in the late 16th to early 17th century. Early spellings included forms such as "God b'ye" or "God be with you"; the modern spelling "goodbye" emerged by the 18th century.

In contemporary usage, "goodbye" is largely a neutral or polite closing. Variants include informal "bye" or "bye-bye" for casual farewells, and more formal terms such as "farewell" or "adieu." Phrases like "see you later" or "take care" imply an expectation of future contact.

Non-English equivalents reflect common patterns of farewell language: "adiós" (Spanish), "au revoir" (French), "ciao" (Italian, widely used), "sayonara" (Japanese), and "auf Wiedersehen" (German). In some cultures, farewell rituals or nonverbal cues carry social meaning beyond the words themselves.

In culture and media, "goodbye" appears as a motif in literature, film, and music, often signaling endings, transition, or emotional turning points. The term is also used in technology and computing as a polite closing of a conversation, and in telecommunication and networking as a general cue for terminating an interaction.