Au revoir
standard
In Quebec people say Au revoir in formal situations, but in daily life you will hear Bye-bye or Bye all the time. À tantôt means "see you later today". It is also called Bonne journée.
Meaning: farewell (phrase)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| Au revoir | standard |
| Bye-bye | casual, Quebec |
| À tantôt | Quebec |
| Bonne journée | polite wish |
Bye-bye is natural in shops and among friends. It is borrowed from English but fully part of Quebec speech.
Which one should you use?
In Quebec À tantôt is used for a meeting later the same day. In France à tout à l'heure fills that role.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In a formal setting or a letter, use Au revoir or Bonne journée.
Did you know?
- In Quebec, bye is also said as a greeting between friends meeting briefly, which surprises visitors from France.
Examples in context
- Bye-bye, à demain!Bye-bye, see you tomorrow!
- À tantôt, je reviens après le dîner.See you later, I will be back after lunch.
- Merci, bonne journée!Thanks, have a good day!
Example conversation
Sophie leaves a depanneur in Montreal after buying milk.
- SophieMerci beaucoup!Thank you very much!
- CommisBonne journée!Have a good day!
- SophieToi aussi. Bye-bye!You too. Bye-bye!
