The most common expression for goodbye in Russian is До свидания (Dasvidaniya). However, there are several other ways to say goodbye in Russian, including very formal and informal expressions. This list includes examples, meaning, and pronunciation of the ten most popular Russian expressions for goodbye.
01
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До свидания
Pronunciation: dasviDAniya
Translation: until we meet again
Meaning: goodbye
This versatile expression is suitable for any situation, formal or informal, although it can sometimes sound a little too formal when used with very close friends and family.
Example:
- До свидания, Мария Ивановна, спасибо за всё (dasvidanyia, maREEya eeVAnavna/eeVANna, spaSEEba za vsyo)
- Goodbye, Maria Ivanovna, thanks for everything.
02
of 10
Пока
Pronunciation: paKAH
Translation: for now
Meaning: later, see you, bye
The most popular way to say goodbye in Russian in informal situations, пока is perfect when speaking to anyone whom you would address as ты (singular/informal "you"), such as friends, family (apart from those members of the family whom you would address as вы out of respect), children, and good acquaintances.
Example:
- Пока, увидимся (paKAH, ooVEEdimsya)
- Bye, see you later.
Прощай
Pronunciation: praSHAI
Translation: forgive me
Meaning: farewell, goodbye forever
Прощай is used when the speaker knows that they are unlikely to ever see the other person again, for example, if one of them is moving away forever, are on their deathbed, or are breaking up. It carries the additional weight of asking for forgiveness for anything that may have happened before. This way to say goodbye is final and not used very often.
Example:
- Прощай, моя любовь (praSHAI, maYA lyuBOF')
- Farewell, my love.
04
of 10
Давай
Pronunciation: daVAI
Translation: give me, go on, come on
Meaning: see you, bye, later
Давай is another informal way to say goodbye and means "come on" or "bye." It can be used in its plural form as давайте when addressing a group of people. It is not appropriate for the more formal register.
Example:
- Всё, давай (VSYO, daVAI)
- Okay, see you later.
05
of 10
До скорого
Pronunciation: da SKOrava
Translation: until soon
Meaning: see you soon
A shortened version of до скорого свидания (da SKOrava sveeDAniya)—until we meet again soon—this expression is quite informal and can be used with friends, family, and good acquaintances.
Example:
- Ну, мы пойдём, до скорого (noo, my payDYOM, da SKOrava)
- We're going now, see you soon.
06
of 10
Счастливо
Pronunciation: shasLEEva
Translation: happily
Meaning: have a good day, good luck, have a good trip
Счастливо can be used both with close friends and people you don't know very well, although it has an informal register.
Example:
- Speaker A: До свидания! (dasviDAniya!) - Goodbye!
- Speaker B: Счастливо! (shasLEEva!) - Good luck!
07
of 10
Всего
Pronunciation: fsyVOH
Translation: all, everything
Meaning: all the best
Всего is a shortened version of всего хорошего and means all the best.
Example:
- Speaker A: Пока! (paKAH!) - Bye!
- Speaker B: Ага, всего! (Aha, fsyVOH!) - All the best!
08
of 10
Счастливого пути
Pronunciation: shasLEEvava pooTEE
Translation: have a happy trip
Meaning: have a good trip
This expression is used when saying goodbye to someone who is taking a trip. It is very versatile and can be used in both formal and informal situations.
Example:
- До свидания, счастливого пути! (dasviDAniya, shasLEEvava pooTEE)
- Goodbye, have a good trip!
09
of 10
Держи нос морковкой
Pronunciation: dyrZHEE nos marKOFkay
Translation: hold your nose to make it look like a carrot
Meaning: take care, look after yourself
This expression is part of a longer saying держи нос морковкой, а хвост пистолетом (dyrZHEE nos marKOFkay ah KHVOST pistaLYEtam), which means "hold your nose to make it look like it's a carrot, and your tail as if it's a gun." There are several different versions of the same expression, such as нос пистолетом, or нос трубой, but they all mean the same thing: that the speaker wishes you to be happy and look after yourself.
Example:
- Ну пока, держи нос морковкой (noo paKAH, dyrZHEE nos marKOFkay)
- Bye then, be good.
10
of 10
Счастливо оставаться
Pronunciation: shasLEEva astaVATsa
Translation: stay here happily
Meaning: take care
The expression счастливо оставаться is used when addressing someone who is staying while the speaker is leaving.
Example:
- Спасибо за гостеприимство и счастливо оставаться (spaSEEba za gastypreeIMSTva ee shasLEEva astaVAT'sa)
- Thank you for your hospitality and take care.
