salut
/sa.ly/
salut is the French way to say bye (informal).
The term salut is a versatile informal expression used both to say hello and to say goodbye. While it serves as a casual farewell, it can also be used when arriving to greet someone in relaxed settings.
Which one should you use?
Unlike au revoir, which is used exclusively for saying goodbye and carries a more formal tone, salut can be used for both greetings and farewells in informal contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
/sa.ly/
When do people say it?
In informal French settings, you might also encounter other ways to say goodbye. You can use À plus tard or its even shorter version à plus to mean see you later. If you expect to see the person again later the same day, À tout à l'heure is a common informal choice. You may also hear the Italian loanword Ciao used as a popular informal greeting or farewell.
Did you know?
- The word salut is also the French noun for 'salvation' or 'safety', which is why it appears in religious contexts regarding the soul.
- Using salut with a superior or a stranger in France can be seen as a social faux pas or a sign of disrespect.
Examples in context
- Salut !Bye!
- Allez, salut !Alright, bye!
- Salut, à demain !Bye, see you tomorrow!
Example conversation
Nathan and Emma are leaving a cafe after lunch.
- NathanOn y va ? Salut, Emma !Shall we go? Bye, Emma!
- EmmaOui, salut Nathan !Yes, bye Nathan!
- NathanÀ plus tard !See you later!
- EmmaÀ tout à l'heure !See you soon!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry salut, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries salut, CC BY-SA 4.0.
