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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
"so long and "salaam"
Some say that "So long!"has something to do with the Arabic greeting words "Salaam," which my dictionary says means "Peace to you!" Is that really so?
If otherwise, how come "so long" means "goodbye"?
YAMAOKA Michio
If otherwise, how come "so long" means "goodbye"?
YAMAOKA Michio
Top answer
" Is that reallyso? If otherwise, how come "so long" means "goodbye"? " Neither the AHD4, nor the online Encarta dictionary give an etymology for the term.
- " Is that reallyso?
- If otherwise, how come "so long" means "goodbye"?
- " Neither the AHD4, nor the online Encarta dictionary give an etymology for the term.
- For now, I'd conclude that etymologists do not find any explanation for the origin of the term to be compelling.
- Raymond S.
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5 Answers
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[nq:1]Some say that "So long!"has something to do with the Arabic greeting words "Salaam," which my dictionary says means "Peace to you!" Is that reallyso? If otherwise, how come "so long" means "goodbye"? YAMAOKA Michio[/nq]
MWCD11 dates the term "so long" to 1854, and says in the etymology "origin unknown." Neither the AHD4, nor the online Encarta dictionary give an etymology for the term.
MWCD11 dates the term "so long" to 1854, and says in the etymology "origin unknown." Neither the AHD4, nor the online Encarta dictionary give an etymology for the term.
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[nq:1]Some say that "So long!"has something to do with the Arabic greeting words "Salaam,"[/nq]
I think so, but I have no way to verify what I think.
[nq:1]which my dictionary says means "Peace to you!" Is that really so?[/nq]
Salaam means peace. Salaam aleikem (sp?) means "peace to you".
Also in Hebrew, sholem aleichem, means "peace to you".
And also Salem, a common
I think so, but I have no way to verify what I think.
[nq:1]which my dictionary says means "Peace to you!" Is that really so?[/nq]
Salaam means peace. Salaam aleikem (sp?) means "peace to you".
Also in Hebrew, sholem aleichem, means "peace to you".
And also Salem, a common
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[nq:1]Some say that "So long!"has something to do with the Arabic greeting words "Salaam," which my dictionary says means "Peace to you!" Is that reallyso? If otherwise, how come "so long" means "goodbye"? YAMAOKA Michio[/nq]
I'd always assumed "so long" was a fragment of something like: "(we shouldn't let it be) 'so long' between visits..."
Doesn't seem to have the gravity that salaa
I'd always assumed "so long" was a fragment of something like: "(we shouldn't let it be) 'so long' between visits..."
Doesn't seem to have the gravity that salaa
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[nq:1]And also Salem, a common place name in the US and elsewhere, comes from the same root.[/nq]
Like Jerusalem, and Dar-es-Salaam.
Odysseus
Like Jerusalem, and Dar-es-Salaam.
Odysseus
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[nq:1]Some say that "So long!"has something to do with the Arabic greeting words "Salaam," which my dictionary says means "Peace to you!" Is that really so? If otherwise, how come "so long" means "goodbye"? YAMAOKA Michio[/nq]
the question was brought up before, without any result:
Subject: "So long!" Origin?
Date: 1999/05/01
Message-ID: #1/1 Newsgroups: sci.lang
the question was brought up before, without any result:
Subject: "So long!" Origin?
Date: 1999/05/01
Message-ID: #1/1 Newsgroups: sci.lang
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