adeu
[əˈðe̞w]
The English phrase "bye" can be translated into Catalan as adeu.
adeu is used as a short way to say goodbye. You may also use the phrase Fins ara among friends and family to mean "see you soon" or "bye for now". If you are speaking to someone you call honey, you can say Fins ara, carinyo to mean "bye for now, honey".
Meaning: short for goodbye (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word adeu is a contraction of the phrase a Déu, which literally means "to God".
Which one should you use?
The word is frequently written as adéu with an accent on the 'e'.
Did you know?
- Catalan speakers sometimes pair adéu with a light kiss on the cheek, a gesture that remains common even in semi-professional settings.
- The full historical form a Déu was once used to invoke divine protection over a traveler, a tradition shared by many Mediterranean-speaking cultures.
- While adéu is common, speakers may use vaja'n as a very abrupt way to tell someone to go away, which functions as a rude version of 'bye'.
Examples in context
- Adéu, Joan! Espero veure't aviat.Goodbye, Joan! I hope to see you soon.
- Moltes gràcies, adeu.Many thanks, bye.
Example conversation
Montserrat and Marc are leaving a cafe.
- MontserratHa estat molt agradable, Marc.It has been very pleasant, Marc.
- MarcA mi també, Montserrat.Me too, Montserrat.
- MontserratAdeu, fins a la setmana vinent!Bye, until next week!
- MarcAdeu, cuida't!Bye, take care!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bye” translations and entries adeu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
