c'était un plaisir de te voir
In French, "it was nice to see you" is expressed as c'était un plaisir de te voir.
This phrase is a polite expression used specifically at the end of an encounter or meeting when saying goodbye to someone you have just spent time with. It is not typically used at the beginning of a meeting.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase c'était un plaisir de te voir literally translates to "it was a pleasure to see you".
Which one should you use?
The default form c'était un plaisir de te voir is informal because it uses te. If you are speaking to a person you do not know well or to a group of people, use the formal version c'était un plaisir de vous voir.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, the phrase C'était agréable de vous retrouver is used to express "It was nice to see you again."
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing someone you do not know well or addressing multiple people, you should replace te voir with vous voir to create the formal/plural version: c'était un plaisir de vous voir.
Did you know?
- The verb voir in the phrase shares an ancient root with the English word 'wit', both originating from the Proto-Indo-European root for 'to see' or 'to know'.
- While 'it was nice to see you' is the English standard, a French speaker might say c'était un plaisir de vous retrouver if they are meeting someone they have not seen for a while.
Examples in context
- Laissez-moi vous dire que c'était agréable de vous voir lors de la conférence.Let me tell you that it was nice to see you at the conference.
- J'ai été ravie de vous revoir lors de la réunion.I was delighted to see you again at the meeting.
- Ce fut un plaisir de vous rencontrer à nouveau lors de notre dîner.It was a pleasure to meet you again during our dinner.
- Hey! C'était cool de te voir à la fête hier soir.Hey! It was cool to see you at the party last night.
- C'était sympa de te voir lors de notre sortie à Paris.It was nice to see you during our outing in Paris.
- C'était agréable de vous retrouver au sommet international de la musique.It was nice to see you again at the international music summit.
- C'était un plaisir de te voir aujourd'hui.It was a pleasure to see you today.
- C'était un plaisir de te voir, à bientôt !It was nice to see you, see you soon!
- C'était un plaisir de te voir enfin.It was nice to finally see you.
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are saying goodbye after coffee.
- EmmaJe dois y aller maintenant.I have to go now.
- NathanD'accord, merci pour le café.Okay, thanks for the coffee.
- EmmaC'était un plaisir de te voir, Nathan.It was a pleasure to see you, Nathan.
- NathanMoi aussi, à bientôt Emma !Me too, see you soon Emma!
