Ways to say it
| Icelandic | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bless | [ˈplɛs(ː)] (narrow) | |
| vertu bless | ||
| blessaður | [ˈplɛs(ː)aðʏr] (narrow) | masculine, singular |
| vertu blessaður | masculine, singular | |
| vertu sæll | masculine, singular |
You can also use the noun kveðja to refer to an utterance of goodbye. In very informal settings, such as when saying 'bye-bye' or 'see ya', you might hear bless bless or the informal 'bye' expressed as bæ bæ.
What does it mean word for word?
The word bless is a shortened form of the verb meaning 'to bless'.
Which one should you use?
While bless is a clipped, common form, vertu blessaður is a more complete and slightly more formal way to say goodbye to one man. Another common alternative is vertu sæll, which means 'be happy/prosperous' and focuses on the person's well-being rather than a blessing.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms change based on the gender and number of the people you are addressing. To say goodbye to one man, you can use the masculine singular blessaður or the phrase vertu blessaður. For a gender-neutral goodbye using the adjective, use the neuter form blessað. If you are addressing a group of women, use the feminine plural blessaðar and if you are addressing a group of men or a mixed-gender group, use the masculine plural blessaðir.
Did you know?
- In very informal settings, you may hear bæ bæ, which is a loanword from the English 'bye-bye' rather than a native Icelandic root.
- The choice between blessaðir and blessaðar depends on the gender of the group, but any group containing at least one man requires the masculine plural form.
- The word bless is a clipped version of the phrase vertu blessaður, which mirrors the sentiment found in the English phrase 'God bless'.
Examples in context
- Bless!Goodbye!This sentence shows the use of the form bless as a standalone exclamation.Tatoeba #3838984 by arnarsmata, translation #516745 by minshirui
- Ég veifaði bless og labbaði svo í burtu.I waved goodbye and then walked away.This sentence uses the form bless to describe waving goodbye.Tatoeba #870834 by Swift, translation #870632 by CM
- Hún sagði bless.She said goodbye.This sentence uses the form bless to describe someone saying goodbye.Tatoeba #1321837 by Swift, translation #310881 by CK
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ólafur and Sigríður are finishing a quick chat at a cafe.
- ÓlafurBless, Sigríður, ég verð að fara.Goodbye, Sigríður, I have to go.
- SigríðurBless, Ólafur, sjáumst á morgun.Bye, Ólafur, see you tomorrow.
- ÓlafurJá, bless.Yes, bye.
- SigríðurBless!Goodbye!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goodbye” translations and entries bless, blessaður, vertu blessaður, vertu sæll, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bless, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
