tata

[levans5348]

what is the origin of 'Tata' or tara as a way of saying goodbye?

[Quizmonster]

The origin is uncertain, but there is a letter dated 1823 in which 'ta-ta' is referred to as an 'old' nursery-word for 'goodbye'. Dickens used it in 'Pickwick' - published in 1837 - in the form 'tar, tar'. 'Ta-ra' is a more modern, dialect version.

[LoungeLizard]

I thought it was derived from the Welsh language; I know a very little Welsh.

Bore da = Good Morning (Bore='early', da='good')

Nos da = Good Night (Nos='night', da='good')

There are other greetings with 'da' in them, which is like the 'Good' in 'Good Morning'.

Would any Welsh speakers care to comment?

[Quizmonster]

Well, if there is a Welsh connection, the language scholars of The Oxford English Dictionary have consistently failed to find it, Lizard. I like the idea, though.

[jno]

sounds like baby-talk that's made its way into grownup-speak, along with mama, dada, papa and so on. I feel slightly foolish saying tata to an adult when goodbye would do as well.