The phrase "so long" is said to mean "goodbye" or "farewell". However, today its use is mostly informal.
The first known usage of the phrase is said to be in 1854, and it has since become dated and is used mostly by the people in the US who are in their fifties and sixties (or older). British don’t use the phrase.
"So long" is more final than "goodbye". Saying "so long" to someone at the time of parting means there is possibility, or certainty, that you may never see that person again.
When we are going to see the person again, we use "see you later" which is kind of obvious.
There is another word for the same occasion: Farewell. "Farewell" is also used when you may not see the person again. It is a short for "may you fare well". Meaning, may you be happy and successful, and do well in life.
As far as the origin of the phrase "so long" is concerned, it hasn't been pinned down. But interestingly there are similar sounding words in other languages, including German (so lange), Hebrew (shalom), Norwegian (så lenge), Swedish (så länge), Arabic (salaam), and Irish Gaelic (slan), and even Malay (selang).
The first known usage of the phrase is said to be in 1854, and it has since become dated and is used mostly by the people in the US who are in their fifties and sixties (or older). British don’t use the phrase.
"So long" is more final than "goodbye". Saying "so long" to someone at the time of parting means there is possibility, or certainty, that you may never see that person again.
When we are going to see the person again, we use "see you later" which is kind of obvious.
There is another word for the same occasion: Farewell. "Farewell" is also used when you may not see the person again. It is a short for "may you fare well". Meaning, may you be happy and successful, and do well in life.
As far as the origin of the phrase "so long" is concerned, it hasn't been pinned down. But interestingly there are similar sounding words in other languages, including German (so lange), Hebrew (shalom), Norwegian (så lenge), Swedish (så länge), Arabic (salaam), and Irish Gaelic (slan), and even Malay (selang).
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