Farvel. Pas på dig selv.

A simple approximation is:

• Farvel → far-VEL
• Pas på dig selv → pass paw die sighl

A few pronunciation notes:

• a in Farvel is fairly open, a bit like a in father
• v in Danish can sound softer than in English
• på has the letter å, which sounds somewhat like aw in law
• dig in normal speech is often pronounced more like dai
• selv can sound a bit like sel with a soft ending

As in many languages, natural Danish pronunciation in fast speech may sound shorter and smoother than the spelling suggests.

Farvel is a standard way to say goodbye.

It is perfectly normal and correct, but it can sound a little more definite or formal than some other casual Danish goodbyes. In everyday speech, many Danes also say things like:

• Hej hej — bye / bye-bye
• Vi ses — see you
• Ha' det godt — take care / have a good one

So Farvel is not wrong at all, but depending on the situation, it may sound slightly less casual than what close friends often say.

Because passe på is the full expression meaning to be careful, to watch out, or to take care.

So:

• pas på! = be careful!
• pas på dig selv = take care of yourself

The word på is an important part of the expression. If you remove it, the meaning changes or becomes incomplete.

Pas is the imperative form of the verb at passe på.

The imperative is the form used for commands, instructions, and wishes, such as:

• Kom! — Come!
• Se! — Look!
• Pas på! — Be careful!

So Pas på dig selv is literally an instruction or wish directed at one person: Take care of yourself.

Dig means you in the object form, and selv means self.

Together, dig selv means yourself.

So:

• pas på dig selv = take care of yourself

This is similar to English reflexive expressions like:

• behave yourself
• protect yourself

Danish often uses selv to make that reflexive meaning clear.

You may hear pas på dig, and people will understand it, but pas på dig selv is the fuller and more natural way to say take care of yourself.

There is a slight difference in feel:

• Pas på dig selv strongly emphasizes yourself
• Pas på dig can sound shorter and more conversational in some contexts

For learners, Pas på dig selv is the safest expression to remember.

Pas på dig selv is for one person.

If you are speaking to more than one person, you would usually say:

• Pas på jer selv — Take care of yourselves

Here:

• dig selv = yourself (one person)
• jer selv = yourselves (more than one person)

Yes, it is very natural as a warm, caring goodbye.

It often appears after a farewell, just like in your example:

• Farvel. Pas på dig selv.

It can sound kind, sincere, and slightly personal. English often uses the same pattern:

• Goodbye. Take care.

So this Danish sentence works very naturally as a parting expression.

It is generally neutral to informal.

• Farvel can feel a bit more formal or final than very casual alternatives like hej hej
• Pas på dig selv is warm and personal, so it is common with friends, family, coworkers, or anyone you want to speak kindly to

If you wanted something especially formal, you might choose a different goodbye depending on the setting. But this sentence is polite and completely appropriate in many everyday situations.

Yes. The phrase can carry both ideas:

• take care of yourself
• be careful

The exact nuance depends on context.

For example:

• At the end of a normal conversation, it usually feels like take care
• If someone is going somewhere risky or difficult, it may feel more like be careful

So it is a flexible and very useful expression.