Etymology Map
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Goodbye

2 stages from English to English.

Today it means a word used when parting

Where does the word "goodbye" come from? It comes from English God be with ye, adopted directly into English (1600s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
God be with ye
English · 1500s
"God be with you"
a parting blessing, run together in speech; the scholar Gabriel Harvey wrote 'godbwye' in a letter of 1573
2
Stage 2 of 2
goodbye
English · 1600s
"a farewell"
'God' became 'good' by analogy with 'good day' and 'good night'
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Read the full story

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.