How to Say Goodbye in French: 11 Ways and When to Use Them
Say au revoir for an everyday goodbye, salut for a casual bye, or à bientôt for “see you soon.” Choose from 11 farewells below.
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How to Say Goodbye in FrenchCasual ways to say goodbye in FrenchConclusionHere are some FAQs about Goodbye in FrenchThe standard way to say goodbye in French is au revoir. It works in both polite and casual situations. Use salut with people you know well; reserve adieu for a farewell that sounds final or dramatic.
| Phrase | Meaning | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Au revoir | Goodbye | A safe everyday choice, including shops and work. |
| Salut | Bye | Friends and familiar colleagues. |
| À bientôt | See you soon | You expect to meet again soon. |
| À demain | See you tomorrow | Your next meeting is tomorrow. |
| Bonne journée / bonne soirée | Have a good day / evening | A friendly parting wish for the time of day. |
| Adieu | Farewell | A final, solemn, or deliberately dramatic goodbye. |
How to Say Goodbye in French
1. Goodbye in French: Au revoir
Au revoir is pronounced /o ʁə.vwaʁ/. In careful speech, the middle e is light; it may be reduced in faster speech. The phrase literally suggests “until we see each other again,” but it is an ordinary goodbye even when you have no next meeting planned.
Quick tip
When you’re in a French shop or cafe, always remember to say “bonjour” when you come in and “au revoir” when you leave. It’s the polite thing to do when in France!
But if you’re looking for other—more interesting–ways to say goodbye, check out the rest of the list below!
2. Farewell in French: Adieu
Adieu literally means “to God.” In general French usage, it suggests a final or very long farewell and can sound solemn or dramatic.
You might use it when parting from someone you do not expect to see again. For an ordinary everyday goodbye, au revoir is usually the safer choice.
Adieu can also be used jokingly for dramatic effect. Regional usage varies, so it does not always imply a permanent farewell.
3. See you soon in French: À bientôt
À bientôt can be used either formally or informally, when you know you’ll be seeing the other person again soon.
“À très bientôt” means “see you very soon.” Neither expression specifies an exact number of hours or days.
4. See you tomorrow in French: À demain
If you’re planning to see the other person tomorrow, this is how to say goodbye.
5. Have a good day /afternoon/ evening in French: Bonne journée / Bon(ne) après-midi/ Bonne soirée
These expressions wish someone well as you part. They work in both formal and casual situations; choose one to match the time of day.
Say bonne journée when you’re saying goodbye during the day, bonne après-midi in the afternoon, and bonne soirée in the evening.
Casual ways to say goodbye in French
Au revoir, à bientôt, à demain, and the good-day wishes above can be used in both formal and casual settings. Choose your farewell to suit your relationship with the other person (See also: When to Use Tu vs. Vous in France).
Now when you’re with good friends, it’s a different story altogether. You don’t have to be too formal around them anymore. Loosen up! Salut, à la prochaine, à plus, and ciao are informal choices. À tout de suite, à tout à l’heure, and à plus tard can also be used in more formal conversations.
6. Bye in French: Salut !
You already know that “salut” means hi. But here, we’re talking about how you can also use it to say bye in French. It is informal and common among friends, relatives, and colleagues who are on familiar terms. It is not limited to teenagers.
7. See you next time in French: À la prochaine
If you wanna say goodbye to someone but you’re not sure when you’ll be seeing him or her again, say “À la prochaine”.
8. See you in a little while in French: À tout de suite
This one is for when you’ll be seeing each other shortly. For example, you’re having lunch with someone but you need to step out quickly to buy something before you meet up again for coffee. Say “À tout de suite”. See you in a short while!
9. See you later today in French: À tout à l’heure
If you’re sure you’ll be seeing someone later that day, let’s say, you’re planning to meet up for apéro, say “À tout à l’heure”. See you later today.
10. See you later in French: À plus tard
À plus tard means “see you later.” The shorter, informal à plus is often written A+ in text messages, emails, or chat.
See more: 61 French Text Slang and Instant Messaging Shortcuts
You can also simply say “à plus”, the shorter version of see you later.
11. The Italian Bye: Ciao
Confused why this one’s included in the list? Don’t be! Ciao, the Italian way to say hi and goodbye, is also used often in France and Quebec. So feel free to say it in informal conversations!
Conclusion
There you have it, 11 different ways to say goodbye in French.
Here are some FAQs about Goodbye in French
How do you say “goodbye” in French?
To say “goodbye” in French you say au revoir.
How do you say “bye” in French?
The French word for “bye” is salut, and you can also use it to say “hi.”
What are 5 ways to say “goodbye” in French?
Here are 5 ways to say “goodbye” in French:
– “Au revoir” – goodbye
– “Salut” – bye
– “Adieu” – farewell
– “À bientôt” – see you soon
– “À plus tard” – see you later
