How to Say “Parting Ways” in French

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se séparer
The English phrase 'parting ways' is translated into French as se séparer.
The phrase se séparer is used to describe people physically going in different directions or to describe the end of a romantic relationship. For example, when you are parting ways with a person, you use the preposition 'de', as in se séparer de quelqu'un.

Is it said differently in some regions?

In Belgian French, the informal phrase À tantôt is used to mean 'see you soon'.

How does it change in a sentence?

As a reflexive verb, the past tense of se séparer requires the auxiliary 'être' and the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject, such as in se sont séparés (they parted ways).

When do people say it?

When parting ways, you might use several different expressions depending on the situation. Au revoir is the most common way to say goodbye. For a longer duration, you can use the slightly more formal Adieu. If you are wishing someone well during the day, Bonne journée is a polite way to say 'have a good day', while Bonne soirée is used specifically during the evening hours. You can also say Je te souhaite une bonne journée to mean 'I wish you a good day', or use Porte-toi bien to say 'Take care'. To indicate when you will see someone again, you can use À plus tard (see you later), À bientôt (see you soon) or Au plaisir de vous revoir (pleasure to see you again). In informal settings, Salut is a common way to say both 'hi' and 'bye'.

Did you know?

  • In France, the gesture of la bise involves kissing on the cheeks when parting ways. The number of kisses varies by region, sometimes reaching four in certain parts of the country.
  • If you use the phrase Adieu to part ways, it can sometimes carry a heavy, permanent weight, implying that you may never see the person again in this life.
  • The verb séparer is a doublet of the French verb sevrer, which means 'to wean'. While they share a common Latin ancestor, they evolved into completely different meanings in modern French.

Examples in context

  • Il est temps de se séparer.
    It is time to part ways.
  • Ils ont décidé de se séparer.
    They decided to part ways.

Example conversation

Emma and Gabriel are finishing a walk in the park.

  1. Emma

    On doit se séparer ici, Gabriel.
    We have to part ways here, Gabriel.
  2. Gabriel

    Tu as raison, je dois rentrer.
    You're right, I have to go home.
  3. Emma

    On s'appelle demain ?
    Shall we call each other tomorrow?
  4. Gabriel

    Oui, à demain Emma !
    Yes, see you tomorrow Emma!

Sources

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Corey Harley
Corey HarleyHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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