What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the preposition до (until/up to) and the noun свидания (the genitive singular form of свидание, meaning 'meeting' or 'date').
Which one should you use?
While до свидания is formal, пока is the common informal way to say "bye" to friends and family and до скорого translates to "until soon" and is used among friends.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
До свидания is the standard, polite way to say goodbye in formal or neutral settings, such as in a shop, with a teacher or with a stranger. In contrast, пока is a popular colloquial way of saying "bye" or "see you later" and до скорого is used among friends.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word свидания is in the genitive case because it follows the preposition до when used to indicate a point in time or space.
How do you pronounce it?
do svidaniya
Did you know?
- Because the word свидание can mean a 'romantic date', a literal translation of до свидания into English sounds like you are saying 'until our next romantic date'.
- The word до in this phrase shares an ancient ancestor with the English preposition 'to', meaning they both trace back to the same Proto-Indo-European root.
- While до свидания refers to 'seeing' someone, the informal пока is actually a shortened form of a word meaning 'for a while'.
Examples in context
- Спасибо за ваше время. До свидания!Thank you for your time. Goodbye!
- Приятно было познакомиться. Увидимся!Nice to meet you. Until we meet again!
- Мне пора. Пока, жду наших следующих приключений!I have to go. See you later, looking forward to our next adventures!
- Спасибо за вечер. До скорого!Thanks for the evening. Until we meet again soon!
- До свидания, мой друг.Do svidaniya, moy drug.Goodbye, my friend.
- До свидания, до завтра!Do svidaniya, do zavtra!Goodbye, see you tomorrow!
- Всё, до свидания.Vsyo, do svidaniya.That's all, goodbye.
Example conversation
Anastasia is leaving a small cafe after a brief meeting with Alexander.
- Анастасия AnastasiaМне пора идти. До свидания, Александр.Mne pora idti. Do svidaniya, Aleksandr.I have to go. Goodbye, Alexander.
- Александр AleksandrХорошо, Анастасия. До свидания.Khorosho, Anastasiya. Do svidaniya.Okay, Anastasia. Goodbye.
- Анастасия AnastasiaУвидимся на следующей неделе.Uvidimsya na sleduyushchey nedele.See you next week.
- Александр AleksandrДа, обязательно.Da, obyazatel'no.Yes, definitely.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries до, до свидания, CC BY-SA 4.0.
