اللہ حافظ
Allah hafizeveryday, Pakistan
The most common goodbye in Pakistan today is اللہ حافظ (Allah hafiz), "God protect you". The older خدا حافظ (Khuda hafiz) means the same and is still widely used. It is also called پھر ملیں گے (phir milenge) and الوداع (alvida).
Meaning: farewell (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Pakistan | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| اللہ حافظ | Allah hafiz | everyday, Pakistan |
| پھر ملیں گے | phir milenge | casual |
| خدا حافظ | Khuda hafiz | everyday, traditional |
| الوداع | alvida | final, literary |
Friends often say پھر ملیں گے (phir milenge), "we will meet again". At work, people end a call with اللہ حافظ (Allah hafiz) or خدا حافظ (Khuda hafiz).
Which one should you use?
الوداع (alvida) is a heavy, final farewell found in songs and poems, and not used for a normal parting.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Pakistan اللہ حافظ (Allah hafiz) has become more common than خدا حافظ (Khuda hafiz) over recent decades, and many people use both.
Did you know?
- The word حافظ (hafiz) means "protector" in Arabic, so both goodbyes simply ask God to protect the person leaving.
Examples in context
- اچھا، اللہ حافظ۔achha, Allah hafiz.Okay, goodbye.
- خدا حافظ، پھر ملیں گے۔Khuda hafiz, phir milenge.Goodbye, we will meet again.
Example conversation
Two cousins, Sana and Rabia, part after a family dinner in Karachi.
- Sanaاب میں چلتی ہوں، دیر ہو گئی۔ab main chalti hoon, der ho gayi.I will leave now, it got late.
- Rabiaاچھا، پھر ملیں گے۔ اللہ حافظ۔achha, phir milenge. Allah hafiz.Okay, we will meet again. Goodbye.
- Sanaاللہ حافظ، اپنا خیال رکھنا۔Allah hafiz, apna khayal rakhna.Goodbye, take care.
