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Farewell vs Adieu - What's the difference?

farewell | adieu |

Adieu is a synonym of farewell.



As nouns the difference between farewell and adieu

is that farewell is a wish of happiness or welfare at parting, especially a permanent departure; the parting compliment; a goodbye; adieu while adieu is a farewell, a goodbye; especially a fond farewell, or a lasting or permanent farewell.

As interjections the difference between farewell and adieu

is that farewell is goodbye while adieu is said to wish a final farewell; goodbye.

As an adjective farewell

is parting, valedictory, final.

As a verb farewell

is to bid farewell or say goodbye.

farewell

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A wish of happiness or welfare at parting, especially a permanent departure; the parting compliment; a goodbye; adieu.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers)
    • , chapter=5, title= A Cuckoo in the Nest , passage=The departure was not unduly prolonged.
  • An act of departure; leave-taking; a last look at, or reference to something.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
    • And takes her farewell of the glorious sun.
  • * (Joseph Addison) (1672-1719)
    • Before I take my farewell of the subject.

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Parting, valedictory, final.
  • :
  • *
  • *:“I'm through with all pawn-games,” I laughed. “Come, let us have a game of lansquenet. Either I will take a farewell fall out of you or you will have your sevenfold revenge”.

    • Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • goodbye
    • He said "Farewell !" and left.
  • * Milton
    • So farewell' hope, and with hope, ' farewell fear.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To bid farewell or say goodbye
  • * {{quote-news, year=2009, date=February 9, author=Neil Wilson and staff writers, title=Tributes for newsman Brian Naylor and wife, killed in fires, work=Herald Sun citation
    • , passage=He farewelled viewers with a warm sign-off after each bulletin: "May your news be good news, and goodnight." }}

    adieu

    English

    Usage notes

    Although the above pronunciations are usually used in American and RP English, neither is the standard pronunciation in French.

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • Said to wish a final farewell; goodbye.
  • * 1599 ,
    • BEATRICE. What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true?
    Stand I condemn'd for pride and scorn so much?
    Contempt, farewell! and maiden pride, adieu !
    No glory lives behind the back of such.

    Synonyms

    * addio, adios, aloha, arrivederci, auf Wiedersehen, au revoir, bye, bye-bye, cheerio, cheers, ciao, farewell, good-by, good-bye, goodbye, good day, sayonara, shalom, so long

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • A farewell, a goodbye; especially a fond farewell, or a lasting or permanent farewell.
    • We bid our final adieus to our family, then boarded the ship, bound for America.

    Usage notes

    Particularly used in phrase bid adieu.

    Derived terms

    * bid adieu