sayonara
Sayonara (intj) means Goodbye — a farewell, borrowed from Japanese. Example: “He waved and shouted "sayonara!" as the train pulled away.”
How to use sayonara
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA casual, borrowed way of saying goodbye, often used for dramatic or humorous effect in English.
Used informally in English, often half-jokingly, rather than as a genuine attempt at Japanese.
Word forms
sayonaras plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He waved and shouted "_____!" as the train pulled away.
Etymology
Borrowed from Japanese sayōnara, literally meaning something like "if that's how it is" — a farewell that implies accepting the situation.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for sayonara
See all rhymes for sayonara →Frequently asked questions
What does “sayonara” mean?
The word “sayonara” means goodbye — a farewell, borrowed from Japanese. In plain terms, a casual, borrowed way of saying goodbye, often used for dramatic or humorous effect in English.
How do you pronounce “sayonara”?
“Sayonara” is pronounced seye-uh-NAH-ruh (/ˌsaɪəˈnɑːɹə/ in IPA).
How do you use “sayonara” in a sentence?
Here is “sayonara” used in a sentence: “He waved and shouted "sayonara!" as the train pulled away.”
What part of speech is “sayonara”?
Depending on how it is used, “sayonara” can be an intj and a noun.
Where does the word “sayonara” come from?
The word “sayonara” comes from Japanese. Borrowed from Japanese sayōnara, literally meaning something like "if that's how it is" — a farewell that implies accepting the situation.
How many meanings does “sayonara” have?
“Sayonara” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: goodbye — a farewell, borrowed from Japanese.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include sayonara: