farewell
das Lebewohl, die Lebewohle
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farewell
A farewell greeting or expression of parting, especially when the separation is final or expected to last a long time.
Zum Lebewohl winkte sie ihm vom Zug aus noch lange nach.
As a farewell, she waved to him from the train for a long time.
to say farewell
To say goodbye to someone or something, often with the feeling that one will not return or will not return for a long time.
Vor der Abreise sagte er seinen Freunden Lebewohl.
Before leaving, he said farewell to his friends.
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Lebewohle |
| genitive | des Lebewohls |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Lebewohl | die Lebewohle die Lebewohls |
| accusative | das Lebewohl | die Lebewohle die Lebewohls |
| dative | dem Lebewohl | den Lebewohlen den Lebewohls |
| genitive | des Lebewohls des Lebewohles | der Lebewohle der Lebewohls |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
'Lebewohl' (farewell) comes from the parting phrase 'lebe wohl' (live well) and is written as one noun. In this way, the word recalls a wish for the future life of the person one is saying goodbye to.
Sein Lebewohl klang endgültig und sehr traurig.
His farewell sounded final and very sad.
'Lebewohl' (farewell) belongs more to elevated, literary, or particularly emotional language. It often occurs in solemn farewells, letters, and stories.
Mit einem letzten Lebewohl verließ sie den Bahnhof.
With one last farewell, she left the train station.
In the fixed expression 'jemandem oder etwas Lebewohl sagen' (to say farewell to someone or something), the person or thing is in the dative. 'Ein Lebewohl' (a farewell) can additionally function as an accusative object.
Sie sagte ihrer Heimat ein letztes Lebewohl.
She said one last farewell to her homeland.
As a noun, 'Lebewohl' (farewell) often appears with emotional modifiers such as 'ein letztes Lebewohl' (a last farewell), 'ein endgültiges Lebewohl' (a final farewell), or 'ein stilles Lebewohl' (a quiet farewell). These expressions usually emphasize the finality or emotional significance of the parting.
Am Grab sagte die Familie dem Verstorbenen ein stilles Lebewohl.
At the graveside, the family said a quiet farewell to the deceased.
