on se parle bientôt
The English phrase "talk to you soon" is translated into French as on se parle bientôt.
This phrase is a friendly way to say goodbye when you expect to speak with someone again in the near future.
Which one should you use?
While on se parle bientôt specifically implies having a conversation, the more common and general way to say "see you soon" or "talk to you soon" is à bientôt.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
on se parle bientôt is an informal and conversational phrase. For formal situations, you might use Nous nous reparlerons bientôt (we will talk again soon) or Je vous contacterai prochainement (I will contact you shortly). For more casual, informal alternatives, you can use À plus tard (see you later) or Je te recontacte rapidement (I'll get back to you quickly).
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase on se parle bientôt, the pronoun on is used as an informal way to mean "we", making the phrase literally "we speak to each other soon".
Did you know?
- The word on shares an ancient history with the English word 'man', as both derive from roots meaning 'one' or 'a person'.
- In France, the use of on instead of nous for 'we' is so pervasive in spoken French that using nous in a casual goodbye can sound stiff or overly academic.
- The reflexive se parle in this phrase emphasizes a mutual exchange, making the act of talking a shared activity rather than one person speaking to another.
Examples in context
- Allez, on se parle bientôt !Anyway, talk to you soon!
- Merci pour l'appel, on se parle bientôt.Thanks for the call, talk to you soon.
- Bonne soirée, on se parle bientôt.Have a good evening, talk to you soon.
Example conversation
Lucas and Léa are hanging up the phone after a quick catch-up.
- LucasJe dois y aller maintenant, Léa.I have to go now, Léa.
- LéaPas de problème, Lucas.No problem, Lucas.
- LucasOn se parle bientôt !Talk to you soon!
- LéaOui, à bientôt !Yes, see you soon!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bientôt, on, se, CC BY-SA 4.0.
