heippa
/ˈhei̯pːɑ/
The English phrase "bye bye" is translated into Finnish as heippa.
Heippa is a casual way to say goodbye when you are leaving someone.
Which one should you use?
While heippa is a common way to say goodbye, the phrase hei hei serves as a common alternative for the same purpose. If you expect to see the person again soon, you might instead use the informal nähdään, which means "see you". Additionally, the word moi is a versatile informal term used for both "hi" and "bye" among friends and acquaintances.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Heippa is an informal and casual term often used among friends and family. For a more formal setting, such as an official environment or a situation where you may not see the person for a long time, you should use hyvästi.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈhei̯pːɑ/
Did you know?
- If you use the formal hyvästi in a casual setting, you might inadvertently sound like you are saying a permanent, tragic farewell, such as 'farewell forever'.
- While 'bye bye' in English can sometimes sound childish, the Finnish diminutive form heippa is widely used by adults in casual social settings.
- Finnish speakers often repeat the word hei as hei hei when leaving, but they almost never repeat heippa as heippa heippa.
Examples in context
- Hyvästi! Kiitos seurasta!Goodbye! Thanks for the company!
- Heippa, nähdään huomenna!Bye bye, see you tomorrow!
Example conversation
Mikko and Anna are finishing their coffee date.
- MikkoKiitos kahvista, Anna.Thanks for the coffee, Anna.
- AnnaEipä mitään, oli kiva nähdä.You're welcome, it was nice to see you.
- MikkoHeippa, menen nyt.Bye, I'm leaving now.
- AnnaHeippa, Mikko!Bye, Mikko!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry heippa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
