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Where does the word "goodbye" come from? It comes from English God be with ye, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).
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Where does the word "goodbye" come from? It comes from English God be with ye, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).
Goodbye’s story begins in English: God be with ye meant “God be with you.” A parting blessing, run together in speech; the scholar Gabriel Harvey wrote 'godbwye' in a letter of 1573. It reached English by 1600s as goodbye. 'God' became 'good' by analogy with 'good day' and 'good night'. Today, goodbye means a word used when parting.
- Stage 1 · English · 1500s God be with ye "God be with you", a parting blessing, run together in speech; the scholar Gabriel Harvey wrote 'godbwye' in a letter of 1573.
- Stage 2 · English · 1600s goodbye "a farewell", 'God' became 'good' by analogy with 'good day' and 'good night'.