Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

goodbye

/ɡʊdˈbaɪ/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.30 in modern English

Syllables
good-bye
IPA
/ɡʊdˈbaɪ/
14
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An utterance of goodbye, the wishing of farewell to someone.

Example Sentences

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰew- Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰutós? Proto-Germanic *gudą Proto-West Germanic *god Old English god Middle English god Middle English God English God Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *bʰuHyétider.? Proto-Germanic *beuną Proto-West Germanic *beun Old English bēon Middle English been English be Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwi- Proto-Indo-European *wí Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Indo-European *wíterosder. Proto-Indo-European *wíterom Proto-Germanic *wiþrą Proto-West Germanic *wiþr Old English wiþerclip. Old English wiþ Middle English wiþ English with Proto-Indo-European *uswé Proto-Indo-European *-(m)is? Proto-Indo-European *uswísder. Proto-Germanic *izwiz Proto-West Germanic *iwwiz Old English ēow Middle English yow English you ▲ English goodinflu. English goodbye From earlier goodby, Godby, Godby'e, Godbwye, God b'w'y, God bwy yee, God buy you, God be wi' you, each a progressively shorter contraction of God be with ye or God be with you. Note the change of God to good by confusion with good morning, good night, etc. Modernly analysed as good + bye.

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ɡʊdˈbaɪ/
  • British English: /ɡʊdˈbaɪ/

Inflected Forms

Phrases

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Antonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce goodbye?
The recorded pronunciation is /ɡʊdˈbaɪ/.
What does goodbye mean?
Farewell; a formula used to another person or persons when the speaker, writer, or person addressed is departing.
Where does goodbye come from?
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰew- Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰutós? Proto-Germanic *gudą Proto-West Germanic *god Old English god Middle English god Middle English God English God Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *bʰuHyétider.? Proto-Germanic *beuną Proto-West Germanic *beun Old English bēon Middle English been English be Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwi- Proto-Indo-European *wí Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Indo-European *wíterosder. Proto-Indo-European *wíterom Proto-Germanic *wiþrą Proto-West Germanic *wiþr Old English wiþerclip. Old English wiþ Middle English wiþ English with Proto-Indo-European *uswé Proto-Indo-European *-(m)is? Proto-Indo-European *uswísder. Proto-Germanic *izwiz Proto-West Germanic *iwwiz Old English ēow Middle English yow English you ▲ English goodinflu. English goodbye From earlier goodby, Godby, Godby'e, Godbwye, God b'w'y, God bwy yee, God buy you, God be wi' you, each a progressively shorter contraction of God be with ye or God be with you. Note the change of God to good by confusion with good morning, good night, etc. Modernly analysed as good + bye.

How to pronounce goodbye

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “goodbye”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɡʊdˈbaɪ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “goodbye”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “goodbye” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.