farewell
gb/fˌɛɹwˈɛl/ us/fˌɛɹwˈɛl/
A2
English
~ 3400
búcsú, búcsúzás, Isten veled!, viszlát!, Ég veled!, elbúcsúzik, búcsút vesz, búcsúztat
NOUN
A2
1
Usage pattern:
to bid [someone] farewell
We gathered to bid her a fond farewell before she left for college.
Összegyűltünk, hogy szeretetteljes búcsút vegyünk tőle, mielőtt egyetemre ment.
His farewell was brief, but heartfelt.
Búcsúja rövid, de szívből jövő volt.
The company held a farewell party for its retiring CEO.
She whispered a quiet farewell as the train pulled away.
They exchanged farewells at the airport gate.
Learner examples
We said farewell to our teacher.
Elbúcsúztunk a tanárunktól.
I gave my friend a farewell hug.
Búcsúzóul megöleltem a barátomat.
They had a farewell lunch together.
We had a farewell party at work.
She wrote a farewell note to her classmates.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'farewell' with 'fare' (price for travel) because they look similar.
Meaning
act of saying goodbye
Collocations
bid farewell
|fond farewell
|farewell speech
|farewell party
|final farewell
Synonyms
goodbye (More common and informal in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
greeting (A word or action used when meeting someone, the opposite of parting.)
Themes
daily life
|emotions
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The act of saying goodbye to someone.
An instance of parting from someone with words or gestures of goodbye.
B1
2
Farewell, my friend, until we meet again.
Isten veled, barátom, míg újra nem találkozunk.
"Farewell!" she called as the ship set sail.
„Isten veletek!” – kiáltotta, amikor a hajó kifutott.
Farewell, and good luck on your journey.
He waved and said, "Farewell."
Learner examples
Farewell, see you soon.
Viszlát, hamarosan találkozunk.
Farewell, my friend.
Isten veled, barátom.
Farewell, and take care.
Farewell, everyone.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'farewell' in everyday conversation where 'goodbye' would sound more natural.
Meaning
goodbye expression
Synonyms
goodbye (More casual and common; 'farewell' sounds more formal or dramatic.)
Antonyms
hello (A word used when meeting someone, opposite of saying goodbye.)
Themes
daily life
|emotions
|communication
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A formal word you say when you leave someone.
Used as a formal or sometimes dramatic way of saying goodbye.
VERB
B2
FORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
to farewell [someone]
They farewelled their guests at the door.
Az ajtóban elbúcsúztak a vendégeiktől.
The mayor farewelled the delegation at the airport.
A polgármester a repülőtéren búcsúztatta a küldöttséget.
We farewelled our colleagues before moving to another city.
Learner examples
I farewelled my parents at the station.
Az állomáson elbúcsúztam a szüleimtől.
They farewelled their friends after dinner.
Vacsora után elbúcsúztak a barátaiktól.
We farewelled our teacher at the end of school.
Common mistake:
Many learners are unaware that 'farewell' can be used as a verb, especially in formal contexts in Australian or New Zealand English.
Meaning
to say goodbye
Collocations
farewell guests
|farewelled the team
Synonyms
see off (More informal; often implies accompanying someone to their point of departure.)
Antonyms
welcome (To greet someone arriving, opposite of saying goodbye.)
Themes
daily life
|emotions
|communication
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To say goodbye to someone when leaving them.
To take leave of someone by expressing good wishes at parting.
Grammar
Dictionary form
farewell
IPA
GB/fˌɛɹwˈɛl/
US/fˌɛɹwˈɛl/
Syllables & stress
farewell (1 syllable)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: farewell
- Plural: farewell, farewells
Word family
Forms
farewells
noun
Expressions
farewell party
1/fˌɛɹwˈɛl pˈɑɹti/
fixed phrase
goodbye gathering for someone leaving
A party for someone who is leaving a place or group.
Examples
- They organized a farewell party for her before she moved abroad.
- We had a farewell party at the office for our boss.
final farewell
1/fˈaɪnəl fˌɛɹwˈɛl/
fixed phrase
last goodbye before separation or death
The last time you say goodbye to someone before they leave forever or die.
Examples
- The family gathered to give him a final farewell.
- It was a final farewell before he moved overseas for good.
fond farewell
1/fˈɑnd fˌɛɹwˈɛl/
fixed phrase
warm affectionate goodbye
A loving and warm way of saying goodbye.
Examples
- He gave her a fond farewell before boarding the plane.
- We said our fond farewells at the station.
bid farewell
1/bˈɪd fˌɛɹwˈɛl/
fixed phrase
formal
say goodbye formally/politely
To say goodbye to someone in a polite or formal way.
Examples
- The president bid farewell to the departing ambassador.
- We gathered to bid farewell to our retiring teacher.
- We gathered to bid her farewell before she moved abroad.
- The ambassador bid farewell to the host country after three years of service.