להתראות
l'hitra'ót/le(h)itʁaˈ(ʔ)ot/
The English phrase "see you later" is translated into Hebrew as להתראות (l'hitra'ót).
Meaning: goodbye (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase להתראות is an infinitive verb meaning "to see each other".
Which one should you use?
While להתראות is the standard form, the English loanword ביי is very common in casual, everyday speech. For a more informal way to say "see you" or "let's meet again," you can use נִתְרָאִים.
How do you pronounce it?
l'hitra'ót
Did you know?
- The verb root used in להתראות is shared with the word for 'miracle', though the meanings have diverged significantly over time.
- While להתראות is the standard goodbye, Hebrew speakers often use שלום, which means 'peace', to both say 'hello' and 'goodbye'.
- The structure of להתראות is actually reflexive, which grammatically translates to 'to cause oneself to be seen by another' rather than just 'to see'.
Examples in context
- הגיע הזמן ללכת. להתראות.It's high time to go. See you later.This sentence uses להתראות to express a departure.Tatoeba #5466944 by fekundulo, translation #31383 by AlanF_US
- "תראה מה השעה! אאחר לבית הספר! שלום!" "להתראות. תזהר.""Look at the time! I'm gonna be late for school! Bye!" "See you later. Be careful."This sentence uses להתראות as a response to a quick goodbye.Tatoeba #6043783 by fekundulo, translation #1528071 by marshmallowcat
- "אצא לדרך, איפוא. להתראות!" "נראה לי שכדאי שגם אני אלך.""I'll be on my way, then. See you later!" "I guess I'd better go, too."This sentence uses להתראות to signal the end of a conversation before leaving.Tatoeba #1488335 by Eldad, translation #1488242 by arnxy20
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Noa are leaving a coffee shop.
- דניאל Danielהיה כיף לראות אותך, נועה.Haya kef lir'ot otach, Noa.It was nice to see you, Noa.
- נועה Noaגם לי! להתראות, דניאל.Gam li! Lehitra'ot, Daniel.Me too! See you later, Daniel.
- דניאל Danielנתראה מחר בבוקר.Nitra'e machar baboker.We will see each other tomorrow morning.
- נועה Noaבטח, יום טוב!Betach, yom tov!Sure, have a good day!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry להתראות, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
