Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pa | /ˈpa/ | familiar |
| na razie | /na‿ˈra.ʑɛ/ | colloquial |
| pa pa | /ˈpa ˈpa/ |
These terms are used as informal or colloquial ways to say goodbye, often serving as short versions of more formal farewells. For instance, while these phrases are suitable for casual settings, you might use Do zobaczenia to mean "Until we meet again" in slightly less formal contexts.
Which one should you use?
The form pa is a familiar way to say goodbye, while doubling it to pa pa is often more affectionate or childish, similar to "bye bye" in English. The phrase na razie is a colloquial way to say "bye for now" or "see you later".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
All the forms in this pack are informal. Use pa or pa pa with friends and family, and use the colloquial na razie in casual conversation. In formal settings, such as with strangers or in professional environments, you should use Do widzenia for a standard goodbye or the polite Państwu życzę miłego dnia to say "I wish you a nice day". Note that Cześć is an informal term that can serve as both a greeting and a farewell.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpa/
When do people say it?
In Polish social contexts, choosing the right farewell depends on your relationship with the person. While you might use pa with someone you know well, you would avoid it in a professional setting where Do widzenia is expected. Additionally, if you want to be very casual, you can use Cześć, which functions as both "Hi" and "Bye".
Did you know?
- The casual goodbye pa is actually a piece of 'childspeak' that has worked its way into common adult vocabulary.
- While pa pa is affectionate, saying it too many times in a row can sound intentionally mocking or overly infantile to a native speaker.
- Polish has a distinct habit of using na razie to signal a temporary departure, which functions more like 'until the next moment' than a final 'goodbye'.
Examples in context
- Pa-pa!Bye!This is an example of using the doubled form pa pa.Tatoeba #13778295 by Cezrun64, translation #647456 by Hans07
- Pa, Tom.Bye, Tom.This sentence shows how to use pa when addressing someone by name.Tatoeba #12360262 by arie, translation #6665116 by CK
- Pa!Bye.This is a simple example of the single form pa.Tatoeba #709902 by koosy, translation #1903709 by AsliAbbasi
- Do widzenia, dziękuję za spotkanieGoodbye, thank you for the meeting
- Nara, do zobaczenia jutro!Bye, see you tomorrow!
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Małgorzata and Krzysztof are leaving a cafe.
- MałgorzataDzięki za kawę, Krzysztof.Thanks for the coffee, Krzysztof.
- KrzysztofNie ma problemu, Małgorzato.No problem, Małgorzata.
- MałgorzataTo pa!Well, bye!
- KrzysztofPa, do zobaczenia!Bye, see you!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bye” translations and entries pa, na razie, pa pa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries na, na razie, pa, pa pa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
