до свидания

До свидания is the standard, neutral-to-formal way to say goodbye in Russian. It is appropriate for almost every social context.

• Literal Meaning: It consists of the preposition до (until) and the noun свидания (the genitive form of 'meeting'). The word свидание shares a root with the verb видеть (to see), so the phrase literally means 'until we see each other again'. It is the default neutral farewell used even when no future meeting is expected, such as with a shop clerk or a stranger on the street.
• Register: It is the standard expectation for formal situations (teachers, bosses, or anyone you address as вы). However, it is also a polite and common way to say goodbye to people you address as ты. It serves as the neutral counterpart to the informal farewell пока.
• Pronunciation: Even though it is written as two words, it is pronounced as one unit. The primary stress falls on the 'a' in свидания. The 'o' in до is unstressed, sounding like a short 'a'.
• Spelling and Punctuation: The standard literary and formal spelling is до свидания. As a standalone interjection, it is often written with an exclamation mark (До свидания!). You may occasionally see до свиданья in poetry or informal writing; this reflects how the ending is often shortened or 'clipped' in fast, casual speech.
• The 'До' Formula: This phrase is part of a highly productive pattern for farewells. You can use до with other time words or events, such as до завтра (until tomorrow) or до встречи (until we meet).
• Romantic Connotation? Although the word свидание can mean a 'romantic date' in other contexts, in this set phrase, it simply means 'seeing each other.' It carries no romantic meaning whatsoever.
• Bidirectionality: It is used by both the person leaving and the person staying.
• The Reply: The standard reply is simply to repeat до свидания. Native speakers also frequently pair it with, or reply using, Всего доброго! (All the best!) or Всего хорошего!