ร่ำลา
say goodbye
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 say goodbye、bid farewell
Describes saying goodbye to someone, often with a sense of emotion or reluctance to part.
say goodbye、bid farewell
Means to say goodbye or take one's leave, focusing on the farewell exchanged before people part rather than simply on leaving.
Learning notes
Explanation
ร่ำลา is a verb for exchanging words or gestures of farewell before parting. It describes the act of bringing a meeting, relationship, or shared period to a close, not merely the physical act of leaving. It combines ลา, “to take leave or say goodbye,” with ร่ำ, which can suggest repetition or continuation. This helps evoke a lingering, heartfelt farewell, though learners should treat ร่ำลา as a fixed lexical unit. Common patterns include ร่ำลา followed directly by the person being left, and ร่ำลากัน, “say goodbye to each other.” The nominalized form การร่ำลา means “a farewell” or “the act of saying goodbye.”
Usage
It is commonly used when people part before a trip or move, or at milestones such as graduation and retirement. It also appears in stories, songs, and news reports describing an emotional farewell. It usually refers to the farewell scene or act as a whole rather than serving as a quick spoken equivalent of “Bye.”
Caution
ร่ำลา does not by itself imply death or a permanent separation. To make that meaning explicit, use wording such as ร่ำลาเป็นครั้งสุดท้าย, “say goodbye for the last time.” As a direct spoken “Goodbye,” ลาก่อน is more straightforward, while บ๊ายบาย is appropriate for a casual “Bye-bye.”
Differences from similar words
1 say goodbye synonyms
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บอกลา is a straightforward, relatively neutral way to say that someone says goodbye. ร่ำลา more readily suggests an emotional or lingering farewell.
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ลา is a broader basic verb that can mean to take leave, depart, or request time off. ร่ำลา specifically focuses on saying farewell and often carries more emotional weight.
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อำลา is often used for more formal farewells, such as a send-off, retirement, or a final public goodbye. ร่ำลา also fits personal farewells and more readily conveys reluctance to part.