au revoir, je t'aime
The English phrase "bye, I love you" is translated into French as au revoir, je t'aime.
This phrase is used to say goodbye to someone while expressing affection.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase au revoir, je t'aime breaks down literally as "until seeing again, I you love". The component au revoir translates to "until seeing again".
Which one should you use?
You can also use Salut, je t'aime. to say "bye, I love you".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Using Salut, je t'aime instead of au revoir makes the goodbye more casual and colloquial. For an informal way to express love, you might also use Bisous, mon cœur.
Did you know?
- While je t'aime is a standard way to say 'I love you', French speakers often add beaucoup at the end to mean 'I like you a lot', which paradoxically actually makes the sentiment feel less romantic and more friendly.
- In many French-speaking cultures, when saying 'bye' to someone you love, the phrase is often accompanied by a 'la bise', which is the custom of kissing on the cheeks.
- If you are saying goodbye to a romantic partner, you might skip au revoir entirely and use À plus tard, mon amour, as au revoir can sometimes feel slightly too formal or distant for a spouse.
Examples in context
- Je dois partir, au revoir, je t'aime.I have to go, bye, I love you.
- Au revoir, je t'aime beaucoup.Bye, I love you very much.
Example conversation
Gabriel is leaving the house after a morning hug.
- GabrielJe pars au travail maintenant.I am leaving for work now.
- LéaBonne journée, mon chéri.Have a good day, my darling.
- GabrielAu revoir, je t'aime.Bye, I love you.
- LéaMoi aussi, je t'aime.I love you too.
