goodbye
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- 1 goodbye、farewell
A farewell expression used when parting. It often sounds more formal, final, or emotionally weighty than an everyday “bye.”
goodbye、farewell
A parting expression that is especially fitting for a long, significant, or dramatic farewell.
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ลาก่อน แล้วพบกันใหม่ laa kɔ̀ɔn lɛ́ɛw phóp kan mày Goodbye. I hope we meet again. ลาก่อน แล้วพบกันใหม่ details
Learning notes
Explanation
ลา means “to take leave” or “to say goodbye,” while ก่อน means “first” or “before.” Together, ลาก่อน reflects the idea of taking one’s leave before departing. In modern conversation, it is not the default expression for every casual parting. On its own, it may suggest a formal farewell, a long separation, a final goodbye, or a deliberately dramatic tone. Adding นะ, as in ลาก่อนนะ, softens the delivery. The expression can also be addressed figuratively to a place, a former way of life, or something being left behind.
Usage
It is well suited to long departures, graduations, send-offs, emotionally significant separations, closing words in letters or speeches, and dramatic scenes in films, novels, or songs. It can also mark a figurative farewell to a place or a former stage of life.
Caution
Using ลาก่อน for every casual goodbye can sound unnecessarily solemn or final. For an everyday “see you,” แล้วเจอกัน is more natural; when leaving first, ไปก่อนนะ or กลับก่อนนะ often fits better. ลาก่อน does not always mean that the speakers will never meet again, but the context can give it that sense of finality.
Differences from similar words
1 goodbye synonyms
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อำลา is a relatively formal verb meaning “to bid farewell,” often used in writing or ceremonial contexts. ลาก่อน is the farewell utterance said directly when parting.
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ไปก่อนนะ means “I’m heading off” or “I’ll go first” and is natural when casually leaving. It normally lacks the final or dramatic tone that ลาก่อน may carry.