Goodbye in French is au revoir (oh ruh-VWAHR), which suits anyone, anywhere. With friends, salut (bye) or à plus (see you) is more relaxed. If you expect to meet again soon, say à bientôt; for tomorrow, à demain. In shops, French speakers usually add a wish: au revoir, bonne journée.
- Anyone
- au revoir
- Friends
- salut / à plus
- See you soon
- à bientôt
- See you tomorrow
- à demain
- Level
- A1
Which French goodbye fits the situation?
Au revoir literally means "until seeing again", and it is the neutral choice: polite enough for a bank manager, ordinary enough for a neighbour. Everything else adds either familiarity or a hint about when you will meet next.
| French | Say it | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Au revoir | oh ruh-VWAHR | Goodbye | Neutral, anyone |
| Salut | sa-LEW | Bye | Informal |
| À bientôt | a byan-TOH | See you soon | Neutral |
| À demain | a duh-MAN | See you tomorrow | Neutral |
| À tout à l'heure | a too ta LUR | See you later (today) | Neutral |
| À plus | a PLUSS | See you | Informal; written A+ in texts |
| Ciao / Tchao | CHOW | Bye | Informal |
| Adieu | a-DYUH | Farewell | Final: you don't expect to meet again |
In the simplest A1 Contos chapters, goodbyes are reported rather than spoken. Two neighbours meet in their building's laundry room; one says bonjour, the other leaves:
Fatima dit au revoir et monte.How do you say goodbye in a French shop?
Leaving a shop, café or doctor's surgery is a small ritual: thank the person, say goodbye, wish them a good rest of the day. The other person mirrors it. Leaving without a word is noticed, just like walking in without bonjour.
Merci, au revoir, bonne journée !
Thank you, goodbye, have a good day!
Merci, vous aussi. Au revoir !
Thanks, you too. Goodbye!
The usual reply from the shopkeeper.
Au revoir, madame, bonne soirée.
Goodbye, have a good evening.
After about 6 pm.
Bon week-end !
Have a good weekend!
On a Friday.
How do you end a conversation or a phone call?
French speakers rarely jump straight to au revoir. They signal that they are about to go with a little word first, most often allez or bon, then the goodbye. On the phone, close friends and family finish with bisous (kisses) or je t'embrasse, which is warm but not romantic.
Bon, je dois y aller.
Right, I have to go.
Allez, salut !
Right, bye!
Allez here just means "OK then".
Je vous laisse. Bonne journée !
I'll let you go. Have a good day!
Polite way to end a chat or a call.
Allez, bisous, à demain !
Right, big kiss, see you tomorrow!
Family and close friends.
Here is a polite phone goodbye from a B2 mystery. An anonymous bidder has rung an auction house to ask an odd question, and hangs up the moment he has his answer:
« Bien sûr, bien sûr, répondit la voix. Merci, à bientôt. »When should you say adieu?
Rarely, in standard French. Adieu (literally "to God") is for a goodbye with no return: a death, the end of a relationship, a final departure. Said lightly, it sounds dramatic. If you will see the person again, au revoir is the right word.
Goodbyes in French are usually the second half of a pair: see how to say hello in French for the first half, and how to say good night in French for partings at bedtime. For à tout à l'heure, à plus and the rest, see how to say see you later in French.
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Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you pronounce au revoir?
Carefully, it is "oh ruh-VWAHR". In fast speech the middle vowel often disappears, so you will hear something closer to "oh-RVWAHR". The final r is soft and comes from the back of the throat.
What is the difference between à bientôt and à tout à l'heure?
À tout à l'heure means you will see the person again later the same day. À bientôt is vaguer: soon, but not necessarily today. À plus is the casual version of both.
How do you say goodbye in a French email?
Formal emails end with Cordialement (kind regards) or Bien cordialement. Bien à vous is a little warmer. With friends, use Bises or À bientôt.
Do French people say bye?
Yes, informally. Bye and bye-bye are common among friends in France, and very common in Québec. Ciao, often spelled tchao, is used too.
How do you say goodbye to a group?
Au revoir à tous or au revoir tout le monde in any setting. Among friends, salut tout le monde or allez, à plus !