How to Say Bye in French

How to Say Bye in French

Saying goodbye in French ranges from the polite, all-purpose Au revoir to a breezy Salut between friends. Picking the right one depends on who you’re talking to and when you expect to see them again.

The Standard Goodbye: Au Revoir

Au revoir — pronounced oh ruh-VWAHR

It literally means “until we see each other again” and is the polite, universal way to say bye to anyone — strangers, shopkeepers, colleagues and friends alike. You truly can’t go wrong with Au revoir.

Copy the Phrase

The French phrase for bye is Au revoir (oh ruh-VWAHR).

Pronunciation Notes

Part	Pronunciation	Notes
Au	oh	Like the English “oh”
re	ruh	Soft, swallowed ‘uh’
voir	VWAHR	’v’ + a ‘w’ glide, then the soft French ‘r’

The tricky part is voir: start with a clear V, glide through a “w” sound, and finish with the soft guttural French r — VWAHR.

All the Ways to Say Bye in French

French	Pronunciation	When to Use
Au revoir	oh ruh-VWAHR	Standard, polite — everyone
Salut	sah-LOO	Casual bye (friends) — also “hi”
À plus	ah PLUS	”See you later” (very casual; ‘s’ often pronounced)
À bientôt	ah byan-TOH	”See you soon”
À demain	ah duh-MAN	”See you tomorrow”
À tout à l’heure	ah too tah LUHR	”See you shortly” (same day)
Bonne journée	bun zhoor-NAY	”Have a good day” (warm sign-off)
Adieu	ah-DYUH	”Farewell” (permanent; rare, dramatic)

Formal vs. Informal Goodbyes

• Au revoir — polite and safe in every situation. Use it with anyone you don’t know well, in shops, offices and formal settings.
• Salut — informal. Only with friends, family and peers. Remember it also means “hi,” so context tells you which.
• À plus / À plus tard — casual, popular with younger speakers and in texts (often shortened to “A+”).

A common, gracious way to end an exchange is to pair a farewell with a wish: Au revoir, bonne journée! (“Goodbye, have a good day!”).

Au Revoir vs. Adieu

Beginners sometimes reach for Adieu (ah-DYUH) thinking it simply means “goodbye.” It doesn’t — Adieu (literally “to God”) implies a final, possibly permanent parting, as if you may never meet again. It sounds dramatic or sorrowful in everyday speech. For normal goodbyes, always use Au revoir, which carries the hopeful sense of seeing each other again.

Cultural Notes

French speakers often soften a goodbye with a parting wish: Bonne journée (have a good day), Bonne soirée (have a good evening), Bon week-end (have a good weekend) or Bonne continuation (all the best). When leaving in the evening, Bonsoir can serve as both hello and goodbye. Among friends, the farewell is frequently accompanied by la bise — the customary cheek kisses. Ending on a warm wish leaves a polite, friendly impression that the French appreciate.