Ways to say it
| Tamil | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| போய்வருகிறேன் | pōyvarukiṟēṉ | first person, singular | |
| போய்வா | pōyvā | /poːjʋɑː/ | |
| போய்விட்டுவா | pōyviṭṭuvā | /poːjʋɪʈːʊʋɑː/ | |
| சென்றுவா | ceṉṟuvā | /tʃɛnrʊʋɑː/ | |
| பிரியாவிடை | piriyāviṭai | /pɪɾɪjɑːʋɪɖɐɪ̯/ | |
| டாட்டா | ṭāṭṭā | /ʈɑːʈːɑː/ | informal |
| போய்விட்டுவருகிறேன் | pōyviṭṭuvarukiṟēṉ | first person, singular | |
| சென்றுவருகிறேன் | ceṉṟuvarukiṟēṉ | first person, singular |
Tamil speakers use expressions that promise a return. This is reflected in the various forms used depending on whether you are the one leaving or are addressing someone else.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase போய்வருகிறேன் literally means 'I go and [will] come back'.
Which one should you use?
Use போய்வருகிறேன் when you are the one leaving, but use போய்வா when you are telling someone else to leave.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term பிரியாவிடை refers to the concept of a formal farewell or parting and is rarely used in casual spoken conversation. For a very informal option, the English loanword டாட்டா is used colloquially among friends and children.
How does it change in a sentence?
The shortened form போய்வா is used when the speaker is addressing someone else informally, essentially saying 'Go and come back'. The form போய்விட்டுவருகிறேன் is a more emphatic or complete version of போய்வருகிறேன், emphasizing the completion of the act of going before returning.
How do you pronounce it?
pōyvarukiṟēṉ
When do people say it?
In Tamil culture, it is considered impolite to say a phrase that implies a permanent departure, so 'goodbye' is expressed as a promise to return.
Did you know?
- While டாட்டா is used for 'goodbye' in Tamil, it is a loanword from the English 'ta-ta', which itself originated from the child's talk of the 19th century.
- In the emphatic phrase போய்விட்டுவா, the word விட்டு literally means 'to leave' or 'to let go', adding a layer of completion to the act of departing.
- Tamil has no single equivalent word for the English 'goodbye' because the concept of a farewell is linguistically tied to the act of returning.
Examples in context
- நான் இப்போது போய்வருகிறேன்.nāṉ ippōtu pōyvarugiṟēṉ.I am leaving now.
- சரி, நான் போய்வருகிறேன்.sari, nāṉ pōyvarugiṟēṉ.Okay, I'm going now.
- நேரம் ஆகிவிட்டது, நான் போய்வருகிறேன்.nēram āgivittaṭu, nāṉ pōyvarugiṟēṉ.It is late, I am going.
Example conversation
Priya is leaving Arun's house after a visit.
- பிரியா Priyaஎனக்கு நேராகிவிட்டது, நான் போய்வருகிறேன்.eṉakku nērākiviṭṭatu, nāṉ pōyvarukiṟēṉ.I'm running late, I'll be going now.
- அருண் Arunசரி பிரியா, கவனமாக செல்லுங்கள்.sari priyā, kavaṉamāka celluṅkaḷ.Okay Priya, go safely.
- பிரியா Priyaமிக்க நன்றி அருண்.mikka naṉṟi aruṇ.Thank you very much, Arun.
- அருண் Arunமீண்டும் சந்திப்போம்!mīṇṭum cantippōm!See you again!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goodbye” translations and entries போய்வா, போய்விட்டுவா, சென்றுவா, பிரியாவிடை, டாட்டா, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries போய்வா, போய்விட்டுவா, CC BY-SA 4.0.
