en vous souhaitant tout le meilleur
The English phrase "wishing you all the best" is translated into French as en vous souhaitant tout le meilleur.
This phrase is a polite way to express good wishes to someone, typically used when saying goodbye or concluding a letter.
Which one should you use?
For example, Que tout vous réussisse is a formal way to say "May everything go well for you", whereas Que tout aille bien pour toi is an informal version of the same sentiment. Additionally, one might use the informal Je te souhaite que du bonheur to mean "I wish you nothing but happiness".
Did you know?
- While en vous souhaitant tout le meilleur is polite, French letters traditionally end with highly coded formulas called formules de politesse that can be several sentences long.
- Using the phrase tout le meilleur in a formal context can be viewed as an 'anglicisme', meaning it sounds like a literal translation from English rather than natural French.
- The word vous shares a common ancestor with the Russian word вы (vy), meaning both languages trace this pronoun back to the same Proto-Indo-European roots.
Example conversation
Hugo is saying goodbye to Léa after a professional meeting.
- HugoC'était un plaisir de vous rencontrer, Léa.It was a pleasure to meet you, Léa.
- LéaMerci, Hugo. Le plaisir était partagé.Thank you, Hugo. The pleasure was mutual.
- HugoJe m'en vais, en vous souhaitant tout le meilleur.I'm heading out, wishing you all the best.
- LéaMerci beaucoup, à bientôt !Thank you very much, see you soon!
