au revoir et bonjour
The French phrase for goodbye and hello is au revoir et bonjour.
This phrase is used to simultaneously say goodbye to one person and hello to another. In French, common greetings and departures vary by time of day and level of formality. For example, bonjour is a formal way to say hello meaning 'good day', while bonsoir is the formal way to greet someone after dark, meaning 'good evening'. When parting ways, you can use bonne journée to wish someone a good day or bonne soirée to wish them a good evening. For informal situations, salut can be used for both hello and goodbye, while à plus tard is a casual way to say goodbye among friends. If you plan to meet again later on the same day, you might use the informal à tout à l'heure.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase au revoir et bonjour literally translates to 'to the seeing again and good day'. The component bonjour is composed of bon (good) and jour (day).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Québec, it is acceptable to use 'Hello' in more informal settings.
Did you know?
- In formal French etiquette, failing to say bonjour when entering a shop or starting a conversation is often viewed as a significant social slight rather than just a forgotten word.
- The word revoir in the phrase is a direct relative of the English word 'review', as both originate from the idea of seeing something again.
- The word 'bonjour' can actually be treated as a noun in French, meaning you can 'give' or 'address' someone with a bonjour as if it were a physical object.
Examples in context
- C'est un moment pour dire au revoir et bonjour.It is a time to say goodbye and hello.
Example conversation
Gabriel is leaving the office as Emma arrives.
- GabrielAu revoir et bonjour, Emma !Goodbye and hello, Emma!
- EmmaBonjour Gabriel ! Tu pars déjà ?Hello Gabriel! Are you leaving already?
- GabrielOui, je rentre chez moi.Yes, I am going home.
- EmmaD'accord, bonne soirée !Okay, have a good evening!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonjour, et, revoir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
