What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a shortened version of à la prochaine fois, literally meaning "to the next" (where "next" implies the next time or occurrence).
Which one should you use?
Unlike au revoir, which is a general "goodbye", à la prochaine specifically implies that a future encounter is expected or planned. You might also use On se retrouve bientôt to say "We'll meet again soon".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
À la prochaine is casual and is best used with friends, family or peers rather than in highly formal professional settings. For a more formal way to say "It will be a pleasure to see you again", use Au plaisir de vous revoir.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the feminine article la because it is an elliptical form of la prochaine fois (the next time), which is a feminine noun phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
/a la pʁɔ.ʃɛn/
Did you know?
- In very casual settings, à plus is sometimes written as A+ in texts and emails, mirroring the mathematical symbol for addition.
- In some regions, people might say à la revoyure, a playful and highly slangy variation of au revoir that functions similarly to à la prochaine.
- The word prochaine shares an ancestor with the English word 'proximate', meaning something that is near in space or time.
Examples in context
- Je dois partir maintenant. À la prochaine !I have to go now. See you next time!This sentence is useful for practicing how to use à la prochaine when departing.Tatoeba #14024524 by Ioan_Cristian, translation #14024525 by Ioan_Cristian
- Merci pour l'aide, à la prochaine !Thanks for the help, see you next time!
Example conversation
Chloé and Hugo are leaving a coffee shop after meeting up.
- ChloéC'était super de te voir, Hugo.It was great to see you, Hugo.
- HugoMoi aussi, Chloé. À la prochaine !Me too, Chloé. See you next time!
- ChloéOui, à la prochaine !Yes, see you next time!
- HugoBonne soirée !Have a good evening!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry à la prochaine, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries la, à, à la prochaine, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
