Ways to Say Goodbye in French

French is a language of nuance, and nowhere is that clearer than in the art of the farewell. English speakers can usually get away with a single, cheerful “bye” in almost any situation, but French offers a rich palette of parting phrases, each carrying its own level of formality, warmth, and expectation about when — or whether — you will meet again.

Choosing the wrong one rarely causes offence, but choosing the right one marks you out as someone who genuinely understands the language. Saying “salut” to a client as you leave a business meeting feels as odd as saying “cheers, mate” to a judge. Meanwhile, “adieu” said casually to a friend you will see tomorrow might raise a few eyebrows — it has a weight to it that “au revoir” simply does not.

In this guide, we will walk through the most common and useful ways to say goodbye in French, from the everyday workhorses to the polished phrases that will impress native speakers. You will learn when to use each one, how to pronounce the trickier ones, and which mistakes learners make most often. And if you enjoy collecting farewells from other languages, our guide to ways to say goodbye in Spanish makes a natural companion to this one.

Quick Answer

The most common way to say goodbye in French is au revoir (until we meet again), which works in almost any situation. For casual goodbyes, use salut (bye/hi) with friends; à bientôt means “see you soon” and bonne journée means “have a good day”. Avoid adieu for everyday farewells — it suggests a final, possibly permanent parting.

The Essential Farewells Every Learner Should Know

Let us start with the phrases you will hear and use constantly. Au revoir (oh ruh-VWAR) is the standard, all-purpose goodbye. Literally “until re-seeing”, it is polite, neutral, and appropriate in virtually every context: shops, offices, strangers, and acquaintances. If you learn only one French farewell, make it this one.

At the informal end of the scale sits salut (sah-LU). Curiously, it means both “hi” and “bye” — rather like “ciao” in Italian. Use it only with friends, family, and people your own age in relaxed settings. Walking into a job interview and greeting the panel with “salut” would land badly; using it with your mates is perfectly natural.

Between those two poles lives à bientôt (ah bee-ehN-TOH), meaning “see you soon”. It is friendly but not overly familiar, making it a safe choice when you are leaving colleagues, neighbours, or anyone you genuinely expect to see again before long. A close cousin is à plus tard (ah plu tar), shortened in speech to à plus (ah pluss), meaning “see you later” — strictly casual, and best reserved for friends.

For an even shorter time horizon, à tout à l’heure (ah toot ah LUHR) means “see you in a little while” — perfect when you are popping out for lunch and will be back shortly. And à demain (ah duh-MEHN) means “see you tomorrow”, the standard sign-off when your working day ends.

Warming Up Your Farewells: Well-Wishes in French

French speakers rarely part without wishing the other person something pleasant. These well-wish farewells stand alone as complete goodbyes, and adding them to your repertoire will make your French sound considerably more natural.

• Bonne journée (bon zhoor-NAY) — “have a good day”. Said when parting during the day.
• Bonne soirée (bon swah-RAY) — “have a good evening”. Used from late afternoon onwards.
• Bonne nuit (bon NWEE) — “good night”. Reserved for when someone is going to bed.
• Bon week-end (bon wee-KEND) — “have a good weekend”. Said on Fridays with obvious pleasure.
• Bonnes vacances (bon vah-KAHNSS) — “have a good holiday”. Used when someone is off travelling.
• Bonne chance (bon shahNSS) — “good luck”. A natural goodbye before an exam or interview.

You can combine these with a standard farewell: “Au revoir, bonne journée !” is one of the most common parting exchanges in France. Shop assistants say it dozens of times a day, and returning it marks you as a courteous visitor rather than a tourist. Much like the English expressions collected in our guide to ways to say goodbye, these phrases work because they add genuine warmth to an otherwise routine exchange.

The Formal and Final: Adieu and Its Cousins

Adieu (ah-DYUH) is the farewell that learners find most tempting and most dangerous. Literally derived from “à Dieu” (“to God”), it historically meant “go with God” — and it still carries a sense of finality. It is what you might say when someone is emigrating, when a relationship is ending, or, at its most solemn, at a funeral.

Using “adieu” when you simply mean “see you later” sounds melodramatic to French ears, like ending a phone call to your flatmate with “farewell forever”. So what should you say instead in situations that call for something more polished than “au revoir”? Try c’était un plaisir (seh-TEH uhN pleh-ZEER) — “it was a pleasure” — which adds elegance without the funereal overtones.

Other graceful options include prenez soin de vous (pruh-NAY swaN duh VOO), the formal “take care of yourself” (use prends soin de toi with friends), and je dois y aller (zhuh DWAH zee ah-LAY), “I have to go”, which softens any departure: “Je dois y aller, à bientôt !” Similarly, à la prochaine (ah lah proh-SHEN), “until next time”, gives a warm, slightly stylish close to a pleasant meeting.

Everyday Phrases for Leaving Gracefully

Beyond the headline farewells, a handful of everyday expressions will carry you through real conversations. Excusez-moi, je dois filer (“sorry, I must dash”) is the casual, friendly way to slip away from a chat. On se voit bientôt ? (“we’ll see each other soon?”) turns a goodbye into a promise.

When leaving a party or dinner, French etiquette expects you to take your leave properly rather than simply disappearing — the infamous “French exit” is, ironically, not very French. Saying merci pour la soirée (“thanks for the evening”) alongside your goodbye shows good manners and will be remembered warmly by your hosts.

Common Mistakes

Wrong: Saying “adieu” to a colleague at the end of the working day.
Right: Say “au revoir” or “à demain”. Adieu implies you may never see them again.

Wrong: Writing “a bientot” without accents.
Right: Write “à bientôt”. The accents are not decorative — “a” without the accent is the verb “has”, and dropping them is one of the most common written errors.

Wrong: Saying “bonne nuit” to a shopkeeper at 5pm.
Right: Say “bonne soirée” in the evening. “Bonne nuit” is for bedtime only; using it earlier sounds like you are telling them to go to sleep.

Wrong: Greeting your new boss with “salut” on your first day.
Right: Use “bonjour” on arrival and “au revoir” when leaving. Salut is for friends and peers in informal settings — save it until the relationship warrants it.

Wrong: Saying “au revoir” on the phone and nothing else.
Right: French phone calls often end with a double sign-off. Adding “à bientôt” or “bonne journée” after “au revoir” sounds warmer and more natural to native ears.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common way to say goodbye in French?

Au revoir is by far the most common and versatile way to say goodbye in French. It works in formal and informal situations alike, with strangers and acquaintances, and it never sounds out of place. When in doubt, au revoir is always the safe choice.

Is it rude to say “salut” as a goodbye?

Not at all — provided the setting is right. Salut is perfectly fine among friends, family, and people your own age in casual contexts. It only becomes rude, or at least jarring, in formal situations such as business meetings, job interviews, or when addressing elders you do not know well.

What is the difference between “au revoir” and “adieu”?

Au revoir means “until we see each other again” and implies a future meeting, which is why it suits everyday use. Adieu, by contrast, carries a sense of finality — it suggests you may not meet again. Think of au revoir as “goodbye for now” and adieu as “farewell”.

How do you pronounce “à bientôt” correctly?

Say “ah bee-ehN-TOH”, with the stress on the final syllable. The nasal “en” sound in “bien” has no direct English equivalent — try saying “eh” while letting air pass through your nose rather than your mouth. French speakers will understand you even if the nasal vowel is not perfect, but the final-syllable stress is essential.

Once you have mastered French farewells, why not explore greetings from around the world? Our list of 40 greetings from around the world is a great next stop — because every goodbye is just a hello waiting to happen.