What does adieu mean?
Adieu is a noun meaning a farewell — a goodbye, particularly one that is formal, heartfelt, or final. Borrowed directly from French, where it functions both as an exclamation of parting and as a noun, English uses it chiefly in literary, ceremonial, or slightly old-fashioned contexts. Its most common modern appearance is in the fixed phrase "to bid someone adieu," as in bidding a departing colleague or an era a graceful goodbye. Because it suggests more than a casual see-you-later, adieu often connotes permanence: the closing of a chapter rather than a brief separation. It also survives as an interjection in dramatic or poetic speech. Speakers should note that adieu sounds elevated and even theatrical in ordinary conversation, so it suits obituaries, toasts, valedictory speeches, and elegant prose better than everyday chit-chat. Its romantic French origin gives it a lingering air of poignancy that plainer synonyms lack.
A farewell; a goodbye, especially one that is final or heartfelt.
"He raised his hat in silent adieu as the ship pulled away from the dock."
Most often found in the phrase "bid adieu."
Used as an exclamation of parting; farewell.
""Adieu," she called from the carriage window, "until we meet again!""
Chiefly literary or dramatic; rare in ordinary speech.
The plural is regular in English, though it appears rarely; the word is usually used in the singular.
"The evening was filled with tearful adieus as the guests departed."
Adieu literally means "to God" — the French were wishing you God's protection on your journey every time they said it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of adieu
Adieu comes from Middle French adieu, from Old French a Dieu, literally "to God" — a contraction of a phrase such as "I commend you to God." It entered English in the late Middle Ages and has been used since as both an exclamation of parting and a noun for the parting itself. It shares its structure with other Romance farewells built on God's name, such as Spanish adiós and Italian addio, all tracing back to Latin deus, "God."
How adieu is actually used
Register is formal or literary; in everyday speech "goodbye" or "farewell" is far more common. The phrase "bid someone adieu" is the most frequent construction. Often carries a connotation of finality or elegance.
Easily confused with adieu
"Ado" means fuss or bustle (as in "without further ado"), while "adieu" is a farewell.