Goodbye

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What does "Good bye" really mean?

So "Goodbye"

godbwye

God be

God be with you

As in French "adieu" and Spanish "adios".

"Good bye" is a short form of "God be with you" (until we meet again).

More: Song: God be with you 'til we meet again

How many times have you said "goodbye" to someone? One would think it has the same origins as "good day" or "good night" but this is not so.

The expression "goodbye" comes from the Middle English "godbwye" which is a contraction of "god" for "God" and "be with you" or "be with ye".

The French word "adieu" ≈ "good-bye", or "until God", comes from the Old French as a shortened form of the phrase "I commend you to God". It is still used in a more solemn and serious manner.

The French word "Dieu" ≈ "God".
The German word "tschüß" (tschus) ≈ "goodbye" is a back-formation from the French word "adieu".

A similar meaning is found in the Spanish as The Spanish word "adios" ≈ "good-bye" as "I commend you to God".

The Spanish word "Dios" ≈ "God".
The Latin word "Deus" ≈ "God".
The Latin word "Deo" ≈ "God".

The modern Greek word "αστίο" (a-STEE-o) ≈ "goodbye" is borrowed from the Italian word "addio" ≈ "goodbye" and literally means "to God" (I commend you).