бувай
buvai
The Ukrainian phrase for "bye bye" is бувай (buvai).
Бувай is the most popular and versatile way to say goodbye in an informal setting among friends, family or acquaintances.
What does it mean word for word?
The word бувай is the imperative form of the verb бувати (to be/to happen), literally meaning "be [well]" or "stay [well]" in this context.
Which one should you use?
Use бувай with friends, family or people younger than you, but avoid it in formal settings with superiors or strangers.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Бувай is informal. While бувай is informal, до побачення is the standard formal way to say goodbye. До зустрічі is a professional and polite way to say goodbye meaning "Until we meet again".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Western Ukraine, the informal phrase Поки-поки is used to mean "Bye-bye".
How does it change in a sentence?
To use бувай in a polite or plural sense, you must use the form бувайте.
How do you pronounce it?
buvai
Did you know?
- In very close friendships, бувай is sometimes replaced by цілую, which literally means 'I kiss', used as a warm sign-off regardless of whether a kiss actually occurs.
- The phrase бувай is derived from a verb that can also mean 'to occur' or 'to happen', making the goodbye a wish for the person to continue existing or happening in the world.
- While бувай is common, some Ukrainians use the English 'bye' as a loanword in urban slang, often pronouncing it as бай-бай.
Examples in context
- Бувай!Bye-bye!This example shows how to use the form бувай to say goodbye.Tatoeba #493532 by aandrusiak, translation #6714881 by maaster
- До побачення! Сподіваюсь на нашу наступну зустріч.Do pobachennya! Spodivayusʹ na nashu nastupnu zustrich.
- Ну, бувай, до зустрічі!Nu, buvai, do zustrichi!Well, bye, see you soon!
- Бувай, гарного тобі дня.Buvai, harnoho tobi dnia.Bye, have a nice day.
Example conversation
Andriy and Olena are parting ways after a short walk in the park.
- Андрій AndriiМені вже час іти, бувай, Олено!Meni vzhe chas ity, buvai, Oleno!It is time for me to go, bye, Olena!
- Олена OlenaДобре, бувай, Андрію!Dobre, buvai, Andriyu!Okay, bye, Andriy!
- Андрій AndriiБувай, бережи себе.Buvai, berezhi sebe.Bye, take care of yourself.
- Олена OlenaДякую, до зустрічі!Diakuiu, do zustrichi!Thank you, see you!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
