Saying Goodbye in Bhutan: "La Ge Lo" (ལ་གེ་ལོ་)

Standard Farewell in Dzongkha

La ge lo (phonetic: lah geh loh) – used among friends, family, equals. Literal sense: "Go well" / "May it go well."

Other Common Partings

• Kadrin chhe la (ཀ་དྲིན་ཆེ་ལ་) – "Thank you" (often used when leaving as polite close).
• Log nga (ལོག་ང) – "Return well" (to someone departing).
• Yong nga (ཡོང་ང) – "Come well" (welcoming return).

Cultural Nuance

• Bhutanese greetings/farewells often include bowing slightly with hands joined (khabja).
• Elders/high-status: add la honorific (La ge lo la).
• Phone calls: "La ge lo" + "Kadrin chhe la" common.

Language Context

Dzongkha is national language; 20+ other languages (Tshangla, Nepali, Bumthangkha, etc.) have own farewells. English "bye" understood in urban areas.