adieu
word
/əˈdu/
/ɐdjˈuː/
Definition
A formal or old-fashioned way to say goodbye, especially when you might not see someone again. Often used in literature or very emotional farewells.
Usage & Nuances
'Adieu' comes from French and is rare in modern English speech, mainly appearing in poetry, literature, or dramatic goodbyes. It is much more formal and emotional than 'goodbye' or 'bye.' Common in older texts.
Spanish: adiós (formal, literario)Portuguese (BR): adeus (formal, literário)Portuguese (PT): adeus (formal, literário)Chinese (Simplified): 再會 (正式，文學用語) - 告别 (正式)Chinese (Traditional): 再會 (正式，文學用語) - 告別 (正式)Hindi: विदा (औपचारिक, साहित्यिक)Arabic: وداعًا (رسمي، أدبي)Bengali: বিদায় - চিরবিদায়Russian: прощай - прощание (торжественное)Japanese: さらば - 永別Vietnamese: tạm biệt (trang trọng)Korean: 작별 - 영원한 이별Turkish: elveda - sonsuz vedaUrdu: الوداعIndonesian: selamat tinggal (puitis/formal) - perpisahan
Example Sentences
He said adieu before leaving for France.
basic
They whispered a sad adieu at the station.
basic
Adieu, my friend. May we meet again someday.
basic
She waved her hand and softly whispered, 'Adieu,' as the train pulled away.
natural
It's not just goodbye; when she said 'adieu,' I knew it was forever.
natural
His letter ended with a poetic 'adieu,' leaving tears in her eyes.
natural