hej då
/ˈhɛjː doː/word by word
hej då is the Swedish way to say bye bye.
hej då is a common, casual way to say goodbye when leaving someone. While the word hej is used for both 'hello' and 'hi', adding då transforms the greeting into a farewell.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to 'hello then', composed of hej (hello) and då (then).
Which one should you use?
While hej då is a standard casual farewell, other options include the informal Hejdå, the friendly Vi ses (see you) and more formal terms like Adjö or the slightly old-fashioned Farväl.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
hej då is an informal expression suitable for friends, family and everyday social interactions. For more formal situations, you may use Adjö or the slightly old-fashioned Farväl.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈhɛjː doː/
Did you know?
- While hej då is the standard farewell, Swedish children often say hej puss to parents, which adds a 'kiss' to the goodbye.
- The word hej is a relatively modern addition to the language, first appearing in written records in 1541.
- While hej då is very common, using the word adjö can sound strangely dramatic or final, almost like a character in a historical play.
Examples in context
- Hej då!Bye-bye!This sentence is useful for practicing the use of hej då.Tatoeba #3301072 by Lize, translation #6714881 by maaster
- Hej då, vi ses imorgon!Bye bye, see you tomorrow!
- Hej då, ha en bra dag!Bye bye, have a nice day!
Example conversation
Maja and Oscar are leaving a cafe.
- MajaTack för kaffet, Oscar!Thanks for the coffee, Oscar!
- OscarInga problem, Maja.No problem, Maja.
- MajaNu åker jag hem, hej då!I'm going home now, bye!
- OscarHej då, vi hörs!Bye, we'll talk soon!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry hej då, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (hej, då) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries då, hej, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
