Knowing how to say “see you later” in French is crucial for anyone learning the language. It’s a fundamental phrase used daily in countless interactions.
This article provides a comprehensive guide to various ways to say “see you later” in French, covering formal and informal contexts, nuances in meaning, and common mistakes to avoid. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to bid farewell like a true Francophone.
Understanding the different nuances of French farewells will enhance your conversational skills and help you navigate social situations with ease. This article is designed for language learners of all levels, travelers, and anyone interested in improving their French communication skills.
By the end of this guide, you’ll have a solid grasp of how to say “see you later” in French and be ready to use these phrases in your everyday conversations.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition: Au Revoir and Beyond
- Structural Breakdown of Common Phrases
- Types of Farewells
- Examples of French Farewells
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Definition: Au Revoir and Beyond
The most common way to say “goodbye” or “see you later” in French is “au revoir.” This phrase is versatile and suitable for most situations, from casual encounters to formal settings. However, French offers a variety of other expressions that convey different nuances and levels of formality. Understanding these alternatives allows for more natural and contextually appropriate communication.
Au revoir literally translates to “until we see each other again.” It’s a compound phrase composed of “à” (to, toward), “le” (the), and “revoir” (to see again). It functions as a general farewell, similar to “goodbye” or “see you later” in English. While widely used, it’s important to be aware of other options that might be more fitting depending on the circumstances.
Structural Breakdown of Common Phrases
Understanding the structure of common French farewells can help you grasp their meaning and usage. Here’s a breakdown of some key phrases:
- Au revoir: à (to) + le (the) + revoir (to see again)
- À bientôt: à (to) + bientôt (soon) – meaning “see you soon”
- À plus tard: à (to) + plus tard (later) – meaning “see you later”
- À la prochaine: à (to) + la prochaine (the next one) – meaning “until next time”
- Salut: (hi/bye) – can be used for both greeting and farewell in informal situations
These phrases often use the preposition “à” followed by an adverb or noun phrase indicating when you expect to see the person again. This structure is common in French expressions of farewell and anticipation.
Types of Farewells
French farewells can be categorized based on formality, timing, and regional variations. Choosing the right farewell depends on your relationship with the person you’re addressing and the context of the situation.
Formal Farewells
Formal farewells are used in professional settings, when addressing someone you don’t know well, or when showing respect. These phrases are generally more polite and reserved.
Common formal farewells include:
- Au revoir (Goodbye)
- Je vous prie d’agréer, Monsieur/Madame, l’expression de mes sentiments distingués (A very formal way to end a letter or email, expressing distinguished sentiments)
- Bonne journée/soirée (Have a good day/evening)
Informal Farewells
Informal farewells are used with friends, family, and people you know well. These phrases are more casual and relaxed.
Common informal farewells include:
- Salut (Hi/Bye)
- À bientôt (See you soon)
- À plus tard (See you later)
- À la prochaine (Until next time)
- Ciao (Ciao – borrowed from Italian)
- Tchao/Ciao (Bye)
- À plus (See ya)
Farewells with a Specific Time
These farewells indicate a specific time when you expect to see the person again.
Examples include:
- À demain (See you tomorrow)
- À lundi (See you on Monday)
- À tout à l’heure (See you in a little while)
- À ce soir (See you tonight)
Regional Variations
While au revoir is universally understood, some regions in France have their own unique farewells.
Examples include:
- Adieu (Goodbye – used more seriously, implying a longer separation, and more common in some regions)
- Variations and local expressions can also be heard in specific regions, though they are less common in standard French.
Examples of French Farewells
To illustrate the use of different farewells, consider the following examples:
General Farewells
These farewells are suitable for a variety of situations.
The following table provides examples of general farewells in French, with translations and context notes.
| French Phrase | English Translation | Context Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Au revoir | Goodbye/See you later | Most common and versatile farewell |
| À bientôt | See you soon | Implies seeing the person in the near future |
| À plus tard | See you later | Similar to “see you later” in English |
| À la prochaine | Until next time | Used when the next meeting isn’t specifically planned |
| Salut | Hi/Bye | Informal; can be used for both greeting and farewell |
| Bonne journée | Have a good day | Used during the day |
| Bonne soirée | Have a good evening | Used in the evening |
| Ciao | Ciao/Bye | Informal, borrowed from Italian |
| À plus | See ya | Very informal, shortened version of “à plus tard” |
| Adieu | Goodbye | More formal and implying a longer separation, less common |
| Je vous quitte | I’m leaving you now | More formal way of saying goodbye |
| Je dois vous laisser | I must leave you | Polite way to excuse yourself |
| Portez-vous bien | Take care | A kind and caring farewell |
| À un de ces jours | See you one of these days | Vague, but friendly |
| Au plaisir | With pleasure (until we meet again) | Expressing pleasure in the encounter |
| À très bientôt | See you very soon | Stronger emphasis on seeing the person soon |
| À un de ces quatre | See you around | Similar to “à un de ces jours” |
| À tout de suite | See you right away | Seeing someone very soon |
| Au revoir et merci | Goodbye and thank you | Polite and common |
| Bonne continuation | Have a good continuation (of your day/work) | Wishing someone well in their ongoing activities |
| À la revoyure | Until we meet again (old-fashioned) | Less common, slightly old-fashioned |
| À la semaine prochaine | See you next week | Specific to seeing someone the following week |
| À dans quelques jours | See you in a few days | Not seeing someone for a few days |
| À plus dans le bus | See you later in the bus (humorous) | Humorous and informal, not meant literally |
Time-Specific Farewells
These farewells specify when you expect to see the person again.
The following table provides examples of time-specific farewells in French, with translations and context notes.
| French Phrase | English Translation | Context Notes |
|---|---|---|
| À demain | See you tomorrow | Used when you plan to see the person the next day |
| À lundi | See you on Monday | Used when you plan to see the person on Monday |
| À tout à l’heure | See you in a little while | Used when you expect to see the person very soon |
| À ce soir | See you tonight | Used when you plan to see the person later the same day |
| À la semaine prochaine | See you next week | Used when you plan to see the person the following week |
| À dans quinze jours | See you in two weeks | Used when you plan to see the person in two weeks |
| À bientôt j’espère | See you soon, I hope | Expressing hope for a future meeting |
| À plus tard dans la journée | See you later in the day | More specific than “à plus tard” |
| À très vite | See you very soon | Emphasizing the short time until the next meeting |
| À mercredi prochain | See you next Wednesday | Specific to the following Wednesday |
| À samedi soir | See you Saturday night | Specific to Saturday evening |
| À dimanche matin | See you Sunday morning | Specific to Sunday morning |
| À la prochaine fois | Until next time | Similar to “à la prochaine”, but more emphatic |
| À plus tard ce soir | See you later tonight | Planning to see someone later the same evening |
| On se revoit bientôt | We’ll see each other soon | Affirming a future meeting |
| On se reparle demain | We’ll talk again tomorrow | Specific to a phone call or conversation the next day |
| À dans une heure | See you in an hour | Specific to seeing someone in one hour |
| À dans cinq minutes | See you in five minutes | Seeing someone very shortly |
| À tout de suite alors | See you right away then | Confirming a very immediate meeting |
| À plus tard, peut-être | See you later, maybe | Less certain about the future meeting |
Informal Farewells Examples
These farewells are best used with friends and family.
The following table provides examples of informal farewells in French, with translations and context notes.
| French Phrase | English Translation | Context Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Salut | Hi/Bye | Very informal; use with close friends and family |
| À plus | See ya | Shortened version of “à plus tard” |
| Ciao | Ciao/Bye | Borrowed from Italian; informal |
| Tchao | Bye | Another variation of “Ciao” |
| À bientôt | See you soon | Informal, but still polite |
| À plus tard | See you later | Common among friends |
| À la prochaine | Until next time | Casual and friendly |
| Bises | Kisses | Used when saying goodbye to close female friends or family members |
| Bisous | Kisses | Another way to say “kisses” |
| À un de ces quatre | See you around | Informal and vague |
| À la revoyure | Until we meet again | Slightly old-fashioned but still used |
| À un de ces jours | See you one of these days | Similar to “à un de ces quatre” |
| À toute | See you soon | Short for “à tout à l’heure” |
| Allez, salut! | Alright, bye! | Encouraging and informal |
| On se capte | Catch you later | Slang, meaning “we’ll catch up” |
| On se tient au jus | We’ll keep each other updated | Slang, meaning “we’ll stay in the loop” |
| À un de ces quatre matins | See you one of these mornings | Humorous, informal |
| À la niche | Goodbye (playful) | Playful slang, less common |
| Tchao, à plus dans le bus | Bye, see you later on the bus | Humorous and very informal |
| À plus dans l’métro | See you later on the subway | Humorous and very informal |
Formal Farewells Examples
These farewells are appropriate for professional settings and when addressing strangers.
The following table provides examples of formal farewells in French, with translations and context notes.
| French Phrase | English Translation | Context Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Au revoir | Goodbye | Suitable for most formal situations |
| Bonne journée | Have a good day | Polite and professional |
| Bonne soirée | Have a good evening | Used in the evening |
| Je vous souhaite une bonne journée | I wish you a good day | More elaborate and polite |
| Je vous souhaite une bonne soirée | I wish you a good evening | More elaborate and polite |
| Cordialement | Sincerely | Used at the end of emails or letters |
| Bien cordialement | Very sincerely | More emphatic than “cordialement” |
| Sincèrement | Sincerely | Another option for ending correspondence |
| Avec mes salutations distinguées | With my distinguished greetings | Very formal, used in professional correspondence |
| Je vous prie d’agréer, Monsieur/Madame, l’expression de mes sentiments distingués | Please accept, Sir/Madam, the expression of my distinguished sentiments | Extremely formal, used in very formal letters |
| Au plaisir de vous revoir | With pleasure to see you again | Expressing hope to meet again |
| En vous remerciant | Thanking you | Often used before a formal closing |
| Dans l’attente de vous lire | Looking forward to hearing from you | Common in professional emails |
| Dans l’attente de votre réponse | Looking forward to your response | Common in professional emails |
| Recevez mes sincères salutations | Receive my sincere greetings | Formal and polite |
| Veuillez agréer mes salutations distinguées | Please accept my distinguished greetings | Very formal |
| Je reste à votre disposition | I remain at your disposal | Offering further assistance |
| N’hésitez pas à me contacter si besoin | Do not hesitate to contact me if needed | Offering further assistance |
| Salutations respectueuses | Respectful greetings | Formal and respectful |
| En espérant vous revoir bientôt | Hoping to see you soon | Polite expression of hope |
Regional Farewells Examples
These farewells may be specific to certain regions of France.
The following table provides examples of regional farewells in French, with translations and context notes. Note that these may not be commonly used or understood throughout France.
| French Phrase | English Translation | Region | Context Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adieu | Goodbye | Alsace, Switzerland | Can imply a longer separation, more common in these regions |
| A tantôt | See you later | Switzerland, Lyon | Regional variation of “à bientôt” or “à plus tard” |
| A revoyure | Until we meet again | Normandy | Regional variation of “au revoir” |
| Yec’hed mat | Good health (goodbye) | Brittany | Originally a toast, also used as a farewell |
| Kenavo | Goodbye | Brittany | Breton language farewell |
| A Dieu vat | Goodbye (God be with you) | Occitanie (South of France) | Occitan language farewell |
| Adessias | Goodbye | Corsica | Regional farewell in Corsican language |
| A prestu | See you soon | Corsica | Regional farewell in Corsican language |
| Au revoir, bonne! | Goodbye, have a good one! | Quebec (Canada) | Quebecois French variant |
| Ciao Bye! | Ciao Bye! | Marseille | Informal and very regional |
| À la prochaine, biloute! | See you next time, mate! | Nord-Pas-de-Calais | “Biloute” is a regional term of endearment |
| Salut, à pus! | Hi, see ya! | Lorraine | Regional slang |
| À la revoyure, les amis! | Until we meet again, friends! | Pays de la Loire | Friendly and regional |
| Au revoir, et à la bonne heure! | Goodbye, and good luck! | Champagne-Ardenne | Wishing someone well |
| À plus, et faites gaffe! | See ya, and be careful! | Rhône-Alpes | Caring and regional |
| Ciao, à bientôt, hein! | Ciao, see you soon, eh! | Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur | Adding “hein” for emphasis |
| Au revoir, et à tantôt, mon gars! | Goodbye, and see you later, my friend! | Poitou-Charentes | Friendly and regional |
| À la revoyure, et portez-vous bien! | Until we meet again, and take care! | Aquitaine | Caring and regional |
| Salut, et à la prochaine fois! | Hi, and until next time! | Bourgogne | Friendly and regional |
| Au revoir, et à la semaine, quoi! | Goodbye, and see you next week, what! | Centre-Val de Loire | Adding “quoi” for emphasis |
Usage Rules
Using the correct farewell depends on several factors, including:
- Formality: Choose formal farewells for professional settings and informal farewells for friends and family.
- Timing: Use time-specific farewells when you know when you’ll see the person again.
- Relationship: Consider your relationship with the person you’re addressing.
- Context: The context of the situation will influence your choice of farewell.
It’s also important to be aware of regional variations and avoid using slang in formal situations. When in doubt, au revoir is always a safe and appropriate choice.
Common Mistakes
Here are some common mistakes to avoid when saying “see you later” in French:
- Using salut in formal settings: Salut is informal and inappropriate for professional situations.
- Misusing adieu: Adieu implies a longer separation and should not be used casually.
- Incorrectly using time-specific farewells: Make sure you know when you’ll see the person again before using phrases like à demain or à lundi.
- Ignoring regional variations: While au revoir is universally understood, be aware of regional expressions and use them appropriately if you’re familiar with them.
Here are some examples of common mistakes and their corrections:
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Salut, Monsieur | Au revoir, Monsieur | Salut is too informal for addressing someone formally. |
| Adieu, à demain | À demain | Adieu implies a longer separation, while à demain means “see you tomorrow.” |
| À lundi, mais je ne suis pas sûr | À bientôt | If you’re not sure when you’ll see the person again, use a general farewell like à bientôt. |
| Ciao, Madame | Au revoir, Madame | Ciao is informal. Au revoir is more appropriate. |
Practice Exercises
Test your knowledge with these practice exercises. Choose the most appropriate farewell for each situation.
Exercise 1: Choose the correct farewell.
| Situation | Options | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Leaving a formal business meeting | a) Salut b) Au revoir c) À plus tard | b) Au revoir |
| Saying goodbye to a close friend | a) Au revoir b) Bonne journée c) Salut | c) Salut |
| Knowing you’ll see someone tomorrow | a) À bientôt b) À demain c) À la prochaine | b) À demain |
| Leaving a colleague at the end of the day | a) À plus tard b) Bonne soirée c) Salut | b) Bonne soirée |
| Saying goodbye to a family member you’ll see next week | a) À la semaine prochaine b) À plus tard c) Au revoir | a) À la semaine prochaine |
| Leaving a store after making a purchase | a) Salut b) Au revoir c) À bientôt | b) Au revoir |
| Ending a phone call with a friend | a) Bonne journée b) Salut c) Au revoir | b) Salut |
| Saying goodbye to someone you’ll see in a few hours | a) À bientôt b) À tout à l’heure c) À demain | b) À tout à l’heure |
| Leaving a casual gathering with friends | a) Au revoir b) À plus tard c) Bonne soirée | b) À plus tard |
| Ending a formal letter | a) Salut b) Cordialement c) À bientôt | b) Cordialement |
Exercise 2: Translate the following sentences into French, using an appropriate farewell.
| English Sentence | French Translation |
|---|---|
| Goodbye, see you later. | Au revoir, à plus tard. |
| See you tomorrow! | À demain ! |
| Have a good day! | Bonne journée ! |
| See you soon, my friend. | À bientôt, mon ami. |
| Bye! (informal) | Salut ! |
| See you next week. | À la semaine prochaine. |
| Goodbye, have a good evening. | Au revoir, bonne soirée. |
| See you in a little while. | À tout à l’heure. |
| Until next time! | À la prochaine ! |
| Sincerely, (at the end of an email) | Cordialement, |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, consider exploring more nuanced aspects of French farewells, such as:
- The use of subjunctive mood in certain farewell expressions: Some expressions may require the subjunctive mood depending on the context.
- Regional slang and idioms: Explore regional variations in more detail and learn common slang expressions.
- The historical evolution of French farewells: Research the origins and development of different farewell phrases.
Mastering these advanced topics will further enhance your fluency and cultural understanding.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about saying “see you later” in French:
- Is au revoir always appropriate?
Yes, au revoir is generally appropriate in most situations. It’s a versatile and polite farewell that can be used in both formal and informal settings. However, it’s always best to consider the context and your relationship with the person you’re addressing to choose the most suitable phrase.
- When should I use salut?
Salut is an informal greeting and farewell. Use it with friends, family, and people you know well. Avoid using it in formal situations or when addressing someone you don’t know.
- What’s the difference between à bientôt and à plus tard?
Both phrases mean “see you soon” or “see you later,” but à bientôt implies seeing the person in the near future, while à plus tard is more general and doesn’t necessarily indicate a specific timeframe.
- Is adieu ever used?
Yes, adieu is still used, but it carries a stronger sense of finality or a longer separation than au revoir. It’s more common in some regions and less common in everyday conversation.
- How do I say “take care” in French?
You can say “take care” in French by saying “Prends soin de toi” (take care of yourself) or “Portez-vous bien” (take care of yourself, formal).
- What’s a formal way to end an email or letter?
Common formal endings include “Cordialement” (Sincerely), “Bien cordialement” (Very sincerely), and “Avec mes salutations distinguées” (With my distinguished greetings). The most formal option is “Je vous prie d’agréer, Monsieur/Madame, l’expression de mes sentiments distingués” (Please accept, Sir/Madam, the expression of my distinguished sentiments).
- How do I say “see you tonight” in French?
To say “see you tonight” in French, you would use the phrase “À ce soir.” This is a common and direct way to indicate that you will see someone later the same day, specifically in the evening.
- Are there any humorous ways to say goodbye in French?