Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| au revoir | /o ʁə.vwaʁ/ /ɔʁ.vwaʁ/ |
|
| bon vent | /bɔ̃ vɑ̃/ | |
| adieu | /a.djø/ | |
| salut | /sa.ly/ | informal |
French speakers use different expressions depending on how soon they expect to see the person again and the level of formality. While au revoir is the standard way to say goodbye, other options include the more final adieu, the casual salut or wishing someone a good day or evening with bonne journée or bonne soirée.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase au revoir literally means 'until seeing again'.
Which one should you use?
Au revoir implies a temporary parting and is used when you expect to see the person again. In contrast, adieu carries a more final connotation, implying a permanent departure or a very long time before the next meeting. For very casual situations, salut is used for both 'hi' and 'bye'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Au revoir and adieu are formal expressions. Au revoir is the most common and standard choice for formal situations. For informal settings, you can use salut or more casual time-specific phrases like à plus tard (see you later) or à tout à l'heure (see you soon/later). To be formal and polite, you can also use bonne journée to mean 'have a good day' or bonne soirée to wish someone a good evening.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/o ʁə.vwaʁ/
Did you know?
- When you say adieu, you are not just saying 'goodbye' but are actually saying 'to God'.
- The expression bon vent can be used as a way to say 'goodbye', but it literally translates to 'good wind'.
- The English word 'adieu' is actually a direct loanword from French, maintaining its original meaning of a final departure.
Examples in context
- Au revoir, Anna !Goodbye, Anna!This sentence shows how to use au revoir to say goodbye to a specific person.Tatoeba #7801624 by theachaean, translation #6750933 by swolesuki
- Au revoir à tous !Goodbye everyone!This sentence demonstrates using au revoir to address a group of people.Tatoeba #10505513 by pkill, translation #4606522 by hito
- Je vous dis adieu.I say goodbye to you.This sentence shows the use of adieu to express a formal goodbye.Tatoeba #12369543 by lbdx, translation #12371568 by Miktsoanit
- 123 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are finishing a meeting at a cafe.
- HugoMerci pour votre aide, au revoir.Thank you for your help, goodbye.
- LéaDe rien, au revoir, Hugo.You're welcome, goodbye, Hugo.
- HugoÀ la semaine prochaine !See you next week!
- LéaOui, à bientôt !Yes, see you soon!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goodbye” translations and entries au revoir, bon vent, adieu, salut, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries adieu, au revoir, bon, revoir, salut, vent, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
