ravi de vous avoir rencontré
ravi de vous avoir rencontré is the French way to say "it was nice meeting you".
This phrase is a polite expression used to say goodbye after meeting someone for the first time.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "delighted to have met you".
Which one should you use?
You can also say ravi de vous rencontrer, which translates to "delighted to meet you". Using the infinitive rencontrer instead of the past infinitive avoir rencontré changes the nuance from "it was nice (having met)" to "it is nice (to meet)".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the phrase changes based on the gender of the speaker and the listener. If the speaker is female, the adjective ravi becomes ravie. If the person being addressed is female, rencontré becomes rencontrée.
Did you know?
- The word ravi shares a common ancestor with the English verb 'to ravish', which historically meant to seize or carry someone away with force.
- While ravi de vous avoir rencontré is polite, using vous with a stranger is a strict social requirement that persists long after the first meeting in many professional circles.
- The French word vous is a distant relative of the Russian word вы (vy) and the Italian word voi.
Examples in context
- C'était un plaisir de vous rencontrerIt was a pleasure to meet you
- Je suis enchanté(e) d'avoir fait votre connaissanceI am delighted to have made your acquaintance
- Je suis ravi(e) de vous avoir rencontré(e)I am delighted to have met you
- J'ai bien aimé faire ta connaissanceI really enjoyed getting to know you
- C'était sympa de t'avoir rencontré(e)It was nice to have met you
- C'était ben l'fun t'avoir rencontréIt was really fun to have met you
- Ravi de vous avoir rencontré, Monsieur.Nice meeting you, sir.
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are finishing a professional networking event.
- EmmaC'était un plaisir, ravi de vous avoir rencontré.It was a pleasure, it was nice meeting you.
- NathanMoi aussi, ravi de vous avoir rencontré Emma.Me too, it was nice meeting you Emma.
- EmmaOn reste en contact par courriel ?Shall we stay in touch by email?
- NathanOui, avec plaisir. Bonne soirée !Yes, with pleasure. Have a good evening!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries avoir, de, ravi, vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
