Ways to say it
| Finnish | IPA |
|---|---|
| hei hei | /ˈhei̯ ˈhei̯/ |
| heippa | /ˈhei̯pːɑ/ |
| moikka | /ˈmoi̯kːɑ/ |
| moi moi | /ˈmoi̯ ˈmoi̯/ |
| hei | /ˈhei̯/ |
These phrases are used to bid farewell. The single word hei is versatile and can be used as both a greeting ("hi") and a farewell ("bye"). However, when you repeat the word as hei hei, it specifically signals a departure or a goodbye rather than a greeting.
Which one should you use?
While hei can mean both "hi" and "bye", the repeated form hei hei is used specifically to mean "bye bye" or a departure. The form heippa is a more casual and slightly more playful or "cute" version of hei hei.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For informal situations, you can use the popular and casual moikka, the playful heippa or moi moi. The word Nähdään (see you) is also a common informal way to say goodbye. In more formal settings, you might use the phrase Toivottavasti kuulemme taas pian to mean "Hopefully we'll hear from each other soon" or Kiitos ja näkemiin to say "Thank you and goodbye" to show appreciation while bidding farewell.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈhei̯ ˈhei̯/
Did you know?
- The casual farewell moi moi actually traces its roots back to Low German, specifically the word 'moin' used in northern Germany.
- The word näkemiin is a common way to say goodbye, which literally translates to 'until the seeing' or 'until we see each other'.
- While hei is universal, the preference between moi and hei can sometimes vary by region or social group in Finland.
Examples in context
- Hei hei.Bye.This sentence shows a simple way to say bye using hei hei.Tatoeba #7892683 by Thanuir, translation #1903709 by AsliAbbasi
- Hei hei, Sayoko!Bye, Sayoko!This sentence demonstrates using hei hei to address someone by name.Tatoeba #8295442 by Thanuir, translation #1077600 by keira_n
- Kiitos yhteistyöstä. Toivottavasti kuulemme taas pian!Thank you for your cooperation. Hopefully, we'll hear from each other soon!
- Nähdään ensi viikolla kahvilassa!See you at the café next week!
- Hei hei, nähdään huomenna!Bye, see you tomorrow!
Example conversation
Juho and Emma are leaving a coffee shop.
- JuhoOli kiva nähdä.It was nice to see you.
- EmmaKiitos samoin.Thanks, likewise.
- JuhoHei hei, Emma!Bye, Emma!
- EmmaHei hei, Juho!Bye, Juho!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bye” translations and entries hei hei, heippa, moikka, moi moi, hei, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hei, hei hei, heippa, moi, moi moi, moikka, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
