szia
[ˈsijɒ]
In Hungarian, bye is translated as szia. Wiktionary also lists viszlát and pá.
Meaning: short for goodbye (intj)
Ways to say it
| Hungarian | IPA |
|---|---|
| szia | [ˈsijɒ] (narrow) |
| viszlát | [ˈvislaːt] (narrow) |
| pá | [ˈpaː] (narrow) |
Which one should you use?
The form szia is versatile and can be used for both hello and goodbye. In contrast, viszlát is used exclusively for goodbye and does not function as a greeting.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
szia is a casual way to say bye. viszlát is a colloquial form that is slightly more formal than szia, but can also be used in formal settings. For a truly formal way to say goodbye, one would use Viszontlátásra. For a very informal, cute or childish way to say bye, use pá, which is similar to saying bye-bye in English.
Did you know?
- The casual greeting szia is actually an abbreviation of szervusz, which comes from the Latin 'servus' meaning 'slave' or 'servant'.
- While 'bye' is often a single word, the formal Viszontlátásra literally translates to 'until we see each other again'.
- While szia is used for friends, using it with a superior or an elderly person can be seen as an unexpected breach of traditional Hungarian etiquette.
Examples in context
- Pá!Bye!This sentence shows how to use the form pá.Tatoeba #8905809 by maaster, translation #647456 by Hans07
- Szia!Bye.This sentence shows how to use the form szia.Tatoeba #4621125 by maaster, translation #1903709 by AsliAbbasi
- Viszlát, Sayoko!Bye, Sayoko!This sentence shows how to use the form viszlát.Tatoeba #1059281 by Mofli, translation #1077600 by keira_n
- Ha egy fontos megbeszélésre sietek, biztosan mondok egy "viszontlátásra"!If I'm rushing to an important meeting, I'll definitely say "goodbye!"
- Szia, holnap találkozunk ugye?Bye, we'll meet tomorrow, right?
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Anna and Tamás are leaving a cafe.
- AnnaKéső lesz már, megyek.It's getting late, I'm leaving.
- TamásRendben, szia Anna!Alright, bye Anna!
- AnnaSzia Tamás, holnap beszélünk!Bye Tamás, we'll talk tomorrow!
- TamásOké, szia!Okay, bye!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bye” translations and entries szia, viszlát, pá, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pá, szia, viszlát, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
