cheerio

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈtʃɪriˌoʊ/
• American English: cheer-ee-oh

Origin

From the combination of "cheery" and "-o," popularized in the early 20th century.

Meanings

1. (informal, British) An expression used to say goodbye.

   • Example: "Cheerio, mate! See you next week."

2. (North American) A breakfast cereal made of small, round, toasted oats.

   • Example: "He poured a bowl of Cheerios and added some milk."

Example Sentences

1. "Well, I must be off now. Cheerio, everyone!"
2. "Cheerio! Don't forget to write when you get there."
3. "The children's favorite breakfast is a bowl of Cheerios with sliced bananas."

Related Words

• Forms: N/A (interjection or noun)
• Synonyms:
  • For goodbye: bye-bye, so long, ta-ta, farewell
  • For cereal: breakfast cereal, oat rings

Memorization Tricks

1. Think of "cheer" + "io" – it's a cheerful way to say goodbye.
2. Imagine someone waving goodbye with a cheerful "O" shape made by their hand.
3. For the cereal meaning, picture the "O" shape of the cereal pieces, which looks like a cheerful smile.