Ways to say it
| Swedish | IPA |
|---|---|
| hej då | /ˈhɛjː doː/ (word by word) |
| adjö | /aˈjøː/ |
| hej ha det bra | /ˈhɛjː hɑː dɛː brɑː/ (word by word) |
The various forms of these expressions are used to bid farewell. While hej då is the standard way to say goodbye, you can also use the more extended hej ha det bra to wish someone well or the very formal adjö.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, hej då translates to something like "hi then", though it is used exclusively as a parting phrase.
Which one should you use?
hej då is the standard, everyday way to say goodbye. In contrast, adjö is much more formal and can sometimes sound final or dramatic, as if you might not see the person again for a long time. The phrase hej ha det bra is a polite way to extend a goodbye by wishing the person well.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
hej då is suitable for both casual and standard everyday settings. For a more polite approach, you can use hej ha det bra. If you need the most formal expression possible, use adjö.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈhɛjː doː/
When do people say it?
In Swedish social interactions, you may also encounter other common farewells such as Hej hej, which is a friendly and informal way to say goodbye or Ha det så bra, which translates to "Take care" and serves as a polite farewell. Other common parting phrases include Vi hörs (We'll be in touch) and Ses snart (See you soon).
Did you know?
- The word bra in hej ha det bra shares a root with the English word 'brave'. It entered Swedish via Low German and French from the Italian word bravo.
- Swedes often use vi hörs as a goodbye, which literally means 'we hear each other'. It is the cultural equivalent of saying 'we'll talk soon'.
Examples in context
- Hur säger man ”adjö” på tyska?How do you say "good bye" in German?This sentence shows how to ask for the German translation of the form adjö.Tatoeba #1141854 by arahlen, translation #464137 by maolek
- Hej då.Bye.This sentence is a simple example of the form hej då.Tatoeba #1387686 by Balamax, translation #1903709 by AsliAbbasi
- Hej då!Good-bye!This sentence shows the form hej då used as an exclamation.Tatoeba #3301072 by Lize, translation #64336 by Zifre
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Oscar and Maja are finishing a coffee date.
- OscarTack för kaffet, Maja!Thanks for the coffee, Maja!
- MajaDet var så lite, Oscar.You're welcome, Oscar.
- OscarVi ses snart, hej då!See you soon, bye!
- MajaHej då!Bye!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bye” translations and entries hej då, adjö, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (hej, då, ha, det, bra) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries adjö, bra, det, då, ha, hej, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
