How “God be with ye” became goodbye

Goodbye feels like one of the most ordinary words in English, but it began as something much more elaborate: a blessing meaning “God be with you.”

A phrase squeezed into one word

From the late sixteenth century onwards, the expression God be with ye was repeatedly shortened and altered in writing and speech. Forms such as godbwye appeared before the modern spelling goodbye became established. Frequent expressions often change quickly because speakers use them so much.

Why does it begin with good?

The beginning was reshaped under the influence of greetings and farewells such as good morning and good night. The word’s modern form therefore disguises its religious origin. You do not need to intend a blessing when you say it today; it is simply the standard farewell.

Nederlandse uitleg

In het Nederlands: goodbye ontstond uit “God be with ye”, oftewel “moge God met u zijn”. Door veelvuldig gebruik werd de hele uitdrukking ingekort en uiteindelijk één woord.

Try it yourself

Next time you say goodbye, listen for the older phrase hiding inside it. Language history is often tucked into the words we use most casually.

Source: Merriam-Webster. Featured photograph by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash.