Ways to say it
| Romanian | IPA |
|---|---|
| la revedere | [ˌla re.veˈde.re] (narrow) |
| pa | [pa] (narrow) |
| adio | /aˈdi.o/ |
The Romanian language offers several ways to express farewell depending on the context and the person you are addressing. The most standard way to say goodbye is la revedere, while pa is used for casual, everyday departures. For a more dramatic or formal sense of farewell, often implying a longer or more permanent parting, you can use adio.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase la revedere literally means 'at the seeing again' or 'until the seeing again'.
Which one should you use?
Use la revedere when speaking to strangers, elders or in professional settings. In contrast, pa is a colloquial version used specifically with friends or children.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
La revedere is a standard, polite phrase suitable for both formal and neutral situations. Adio is also considered formal but carries a more dramatic tone. Conversely, pa is very informal. In certain urban areas, you may encounter informal uses of salut or salutare as a way to greet or part ways.
When do people say it?
When parting, you can vary your well-wishes. For example, you might say O zi plăcută to mean 'have a nice day' or O seară plăcută to mean 'have a pleasant evening'. If you expect to see the person again soon, you can use Ne vedem (see you), ne vedem mai târziu (see you later) or ne vedem curând (see you soon).
Did you know?
- The casual word for goodbye pa is actually borrowed from the Hungarian word pá.
- Using adio in a casual context can be perceived as an aggressive or cold signal that the speaker never wishes to see the other person again.
- When saying la revedere, it is common in Romania to accompany the phrase with a slight nod or a handshake in professional environments.
Examples in context
- Trebuie să spun la revedere.I have to say goodbye.This sentence demonstrates the use of la revedere for expressing the necessity of saying goodbye.Tatoeba #4847252 by elenacristina260, translation #2360563 by CK
- Tom tocmai a spus la revedere.Tom just said goodbye.This sentence shows a recent action involving the phrase la revedere.Tatoeba #9140053 by CataG, translation #2646371 by CK
- Spune-i că i-am zis la revedere.Tell her I said goodbye.This sentence is useful for conveying a message where the speaker used la revedere.Tatoeba #8605273 by CataG, translation #3908136 by CH
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Andreea and Gabriel are leaving a coffee shop.
- AndreeaLa revedere, Gabriel!Goodbye, Gabriel!
- GabrielLa revedere, Andreea. Ne vedem săptămâna viitoare.Goodbye, Andreea. See you next week.
- AndreeaSigur, o să ne auzim.Sure, we will talk.
- GabrielO zi bună!Have a good day!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goodbye” translations and entries la revedere, pa, adio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries adio, la, la revedere, pa, revedere, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
