Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| अलविदा | alvidā | /əl.ʋɪ.d̪ɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | |
| नमस्ते | namaste | /nə.məs.t̪eː/ (Hindi, Standard) | |
| राम-राम | rām-rām | /ɾɑːm.ɾɑːm/ (Hindi, Standard) | |
| ख़ुदा हाफ़िज़ | xudā hāfiz | /xʊ.d̪ɑː ɦɑː.fɪz/ (Hindi, Standard) /kʰʊ.d̪ɑː ɦɑː.pʰɪd͡ʒ/ (Hindi, Standard) |
Muslim |
| सत श्री अकाल | sat śrī akāl | /sət̪ ʃɾiː ə.kɑːl/ (Hindi, Standard) | Sikh |
In Hindi, there are various ways to say goodbye depending on the context and the person you are addressing. The word अलविदा is a formal expression that often carries the weight of a long-term or permanent departure. For more casual settings, you might use नमस्ते to mean both hello and goodbye or use phrases like Milte hain or Fir milenge (See you later/We'll meet again).
Which one should you use?
While अलविदा is a formal way to bid farewell, नमस्ते is primarily a greeting used when meeting someone, though it is frequently used colloquially to mean both hello and goodbye. For specific religious contexts, Muslims often use ख़ुदा हाफ़िज़ and Sikhs use सत श्री अकाल.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
अलविदा is a formal term. For a more casual or even humorous tone, you can use नमस्ते. In rural or traditional North Indian settings, the informal राम-राम is commonly used to greet or bid farewell. If you want to be polite and formal, you can combine phrases, such as Dhanyavaad aur alvida (Thank you and goodbye) or Aapka din mangalmay ho, alvida.
Is it said differently in some regions?
राम-राम is a common way to greet or bid farewell, particularly in rural or traditional North Indian settings.
How do you pronounce it?
alvidā (pronounced /əl.ʋɪ.d̪ɑː/)
When do people say it?
ख़ुदा हाफ़िज़ is a common way for Muslims to say goodbye, literally meaning 'May God be your protector'.
Did you know?
- The word अकाल in the Sikh farewell सत श्री अकाल is the same word used in English to describe a 'famine'. In this religious context, however, it refers to the 'timeless' or 'undying' nature of the Divine.
- In many Indian cultures, a goodbye is not just a word but can involve touching the feet of an elder as a sign of respect before departing.
- The word हाफ़िज़ in ख़ुदा हाफ़िज़ shares its root with the Arabic word for someone who has memorized the entire Quran.
Examples in context
- मैं हमेशा अलविदा कहता हूं और रूक जाता हूं।I always say goodbye, and I stay.This sentence shows the use of अलविदा in a sentence about staying.Tatoeba #2482108 by raj_rezzy, translation #2482094 by BoriQa
- अलविदा!Goodbye!This is a simple, direct use of अलविदा!Tatoeba #4078400 by sabretou, translation #516745 by minshirui
- अलविदा कहो।Say goodbye.This sentence uses अलविदा as an instruction to say goodbye.Tatoeba #3624057 by sabretou, translation #2111564 by CK
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Pooja and Aditya are finishing their meeting at a cafe.
- पूजा Poojaअब मुझे चलना चाहिए।Ab mujhe chalna chahiye.I should leave now.
- आदित्य Adityaठीक है, आपसे मिलकर अच्छा लगा।Theek hai, aapse milkar achha laga.Okay, it was nice meeting you.
- पूजा Poojaअलविदा, आदित्य!Alvida, Aditya!Goodbye, Aditya!
- आदित्य Adityaअलविदा, पूजा!Alvida, Pooja!Goodbye, Pooja!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goodbye” translations and entries अलविदा, नमस्ते, राम-राम, ख़ुदा हाफ़िज़, सत श्री अकाल, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries अकाल, ख़ुदा, ख़ुदा हाफ़िज़, नमस्ते, श्री, सत, सत श्री अकाल, हाफ़िज़, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
