English

Usage notes

Although the above pronunciations are usually used in American and RP English, neither is the standard pronunciation in French.

Interjection

adieu

1. Said to wish a final farewell; goodbye.
   • 1599, William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act 3 Scene 1

     BEATRICE. What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true?

     Stand I condemn'd for pride and scorn so much?

     Contempt, farewell! and maiden pride, adieu!

     No glory lives behind the back of such.

Synonyms

• addio, adios, aloha, arrivederci, auf Wiedersehen, au revoir, bye, bye-bye, cheerio, cheers, ciao, farewell, good-by, good-bye, goodbye, good day, sayonara, shalom, so long, sleep tight pupper

Translations

Noun

adieu ‎(plural adieux or adieus)

1. A farewell, a goodbye; especially a fond farewell, or a lasting or permanent farewell.

   We bid our final adieus to our family, then boarded the ship, bound for America.

Usage notes

Particularly used in phrase bid adieu.

Derived terms

• bid adieu

Translations

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aː.diˈøː/, /aːˈdjøː/

Etymology

From French adieu ‎(“to God”).

Interjection

adieu

1. farewell, adieu

See also

• aju

French

Etymology

Old French a Dieu vos comant ‎(“I commend you to God”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.djø/

Interjection

adieu

1. farewell, adieu
2. (dated) goodbye
3. (Southern France) hello

Noun

adieu m ‎(plural adieux)

1. farewell

See also

• à-Dieu-va, à-Dieu-vat

Occitan

Interjection

adieu

1. hello
2. goodbye