Saying goodbye in French isn’t just about “au revoir.” There are many ways to say it, each fitting different times and feelings. In France, your goodbye shows your relationship with someone, where you are, and how you feel. From the usual “au revoir” to a casual “salut” and the grave “adieu,” each one has its place.
Using the right one shows you get the language and the culture. Whether you’re saying bye to a coworker, a friend, or someone you know, French goodbyes let you match your words to the moment, making every goodbye count.
Goodbye Expressions Borrowed from Other Languages
French farewells are rich with tradition, but the language also picks up phrases from other cultures. For example, young people in France often say “Ciao,” a casual goodbye borrowed from Italian. They also use the English word “Bye” in everyday chat.
You might even hear “Hasta la vista,” from Spanish, which means “See you later,” especially when movies and TV influence people. These borrowed phrases show how the French language can adapt and change, highlighting how cultures mix and share. This keeps French fresh and connected in our global world.
How to say goodbye in French
Mastering farewells in French adds charm and connection to conversations. Whether formal or casual, knowing the right goodbye is essential for travel, work, or making friends. This guide explores simple and effective ways to leave a lasting impression with your French goodbyes.
Also See – How to Say Goodbye in Japanese: Common Phrases and Their Uses
| English | French | French Pronunciation | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goodbye. | Au revoir. | oh ruh-vwar | All purpose |
| Bye. | Salut. | sah-luh | Informal |
| Goodbye, until next time. | Au revoir, à la prochaine. | oh ruh-vwar, ah-la-pro-shen | All purpose |
| See you soon. | À bientôt. | ah-be-uhn-toh | All purpose |
| Goodbye, have a nice day. | Au revoir, bonne journée. | oh ruh-vwar, bun-jour-neh | All purpose |
| Have a good night. | Bonne nuit. | bun-new-ee | All purpose |
| Good afternoon. | Bon après-midi. | bun-ah-prey-me-dee | All purpose |
| Good evening. | Bonne soirée or Bonsoir. | bun-swar-eh or bun-swar | All purpose |
| See you later. | À plus tard. | ah-plu-tar | All purpose |
| Later. | À plus or À +. | ah-plews | Informal |
| See you in a bit. | À tout de suite or À tout à l’heure. | ah-too-duh-sweet or ah-too-tah-lure | All purpose |
| See you tomorrow. | À demain. | ah-demahn | All purpose |
| Until we meet again. | Au plaisir. | oh-pleh-zir | All purpose |
| See you on Monday. | À lundi. | ah-lund-ee | Specific to the day |
| Take care. | Prends soin de toi or Fais attention à toi | prahn-swahn-duh-twah or fey-ah-tahn-cion-ah-twah | Informal |
| Say hi to your dad for me. | Passe le bonjour à ton père. | pass-leuh-bon-jour-ah-tahn-pear | Informal |
| Kisses. | Bisous or Bises. | bee-zoo or beez | Informal |
| Let’s call each other. | On s’appelle. | uhn-sa-pelle | All purpose |
| Let’s keep in touch. | On se tient au courant. | uhn-su-tiuhn-oh-coo-rahn | All purpose |
| Hugs and kisses. | Je t’embrasse. | juh-tahn-brass | Informal |
| Good luck. | Bon courage. | bun-coo-hage | All purpose |
| I’m leaving. | J’y vais. | gee-vey | All purpose |
How to say goodbye in French formally
Navigating formal goodbyes in French requires a touch of elegance and respect. This guide explores polite and refined ways to part in professional or formal settings. Each phrase helps convey the appropriate tone, ensuring your farewell leaves a lasting impression.
| French Phrase | English Meaning | Pronunciation (Approximation) |
|---|---|---|
| Au revoir | Goodbye | “Oh ruh-vwahr” |
| Adieu | Farewell | “Ah-dyuh” |
| À bientôt | See you soon | “Ah byan-toh” |
| À tout à l’heure | See you later | “Ah toot ah luhr” |
| Bonne journée | Have a good day | “Bun zhoor-nay” |
| Bonne soirée | Have a good evening | “Bun swah-ray” |
| À la prochaine | Until next time | “Ah lah proh-shen” |
| Portez-vous bien | Take care of yourself | “Portay voo byan” |
| Je vous souhaite une bonne continuation | I wish you all the best | “Zhuh voo swet oon bun kohn-teen-yah-syon” |
| À demain | See you tomorrow | “Ah duh-mahn” |
| À la semaine prochaine | See you next week | “Ah lah suh-men proh-shen” |
| Veuillez accepter mes salutations distinguées | Please accept my distinguished greetings | “Vuh-yay ak-sep-tay may sah-loo-tah-syon dee-stan-gyay” |
| Prenez soin de vous | Take care | “Pruh-nay swan duh voo” |
| À très bientôt | See you very soon | “Ah tray byan-toh” |
| Avec mes respects | With my respects | “Ah-vek may ray-spay” |
Also See – How to Say Goodbye in 25 Different Languages
How to say goodbye in French slang
Saying goodbye in French can be stylish, especially with slang. French slang adds flair and personality to everyday language. In this section, discover cool, casual ways to say goodbye like a local. Learn phrases that reflect French culture and make your farewells unforgettable.
| English | French | French Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Let’s keep in touch. | On se tient au jus. | uhn-suh-tiuhn-oh-jew |
| Later in the bus. | À plus dans l’bus. | ah-plus-dahnl-boose |
| I’m out of here. | Je me casse / Je me tire. | juh-muh-cahs / juh-muh-teer |
| See you. | À la revoyure. | ah-lah-ruh-vwar-ure |
| See ya. | À tout’. | ah-toot |
| See you again. | À un de ces quatre. | ah-uhn-duh-seh-catre |
| Let’s call each other and go eat. | On s’appelle, on s’fait une bouffe. | uhn-sah-pell-uhn-sfey-uhn-bewf |
Conclusion
Wrapping up, the French language has many ways to say goodbye, each fitting different situations and relationships. From the formal “Au revoir” to the casual “Salut,” and the caring “Prenez soin de vous,” each phrase has its meaning and cultural depth. Knowing these differences improves how we talk and shows respect for social subtleties. Whether you’re leaving a business meeting or saying bye to friends, picking the right words makes a memorable impact.
