Saying “Goodbye” in French is most often as easy as saying Au Revoir, which literally means “to the seeing again.” You can say au revoir in almost any situation, but once you’ve mastered that, you’re ready to add a little more variety to your conversation. Learning to say these goodbyes also teaches you versatile vocabulary that you’ll use in other French phrases. 

When you’re ready to mix up your goodbyes, pick a more specific option depending on when you’ll see the person again. There are some neutral options that can work when you’re on your best behavior, and others for when the situation is more relaxed.

Au Revoir (Goodbye) 

The standard goodbye, this is typically the first phrase beginners learn in French, just after Bonjour (hello in French). This classic phrase for goodbye in French works for any time of day in both formal and informal situations, so you’ll hear this one most of the time. 

  • Au revoir ! = Goodbye
  • Merci, au revoir ! = Thank you, goodbye!
  • Au revoir maman. = Goodbye, Mom.

If you practice the French pronunciation, particularly the two “r” sounds in this phrase, you’ll start off sounding more French. Rosetta Stone’s TruAccent can give you feedback, so you know how you’re improving. 

Bonne journée !(Have a good day!) 

Just as it’s polite to greet people on entering a shop, a restaurant, or a class, it’s also customary to say goodbye on your way out. During the day, whether it’s morning or afternoon, choose Bonne journée ! 

It’s important to distinguish between “goodbye” and ”hello” in French. 

  • Bonjour. = Hello. 
  • Bonne journée ! = Have a nice day!
  • Bonne fin de journée ! = Enjoy the rest of your day. 

Both expressions have the word for “good” in French. Because of French grammar rules, the masculine form bon is used with jour (day), and the feminine form bonne is used with journée. 

Bonne soirée ! (Have a good evening!)

This formula takes effect around 6 or 7 in the evening when you know you won’t see the person again that day. It will be especially impressive to your listener if you make this connection while on a video call with France from another time zone. 

  • Je devrais m’en aller. Bonne soirée ! = I should get going. Have a good evening!
    • Moi aussi. Bonne soirée. = Me too. Have a good evening!

As with bonjour vs. bonne journée, don’t get this one confused with the evening greeting Bonsoir. 

Bonne nuit ! (Good night)

If you or someone else is going to sleep for the night, opt for Bonne nuit ! (”good night” in French) instead. 

  • Il se fait tard. = It’s getting late.
    • Oui, je vais me coucher. = Yes, I’m going to go to bed. 
  • Bonne nuit. = Goodnight.

À bientôt ! (See you soon!; informal)

This is a friendly option for saying goodbye in a more casual way. When saying goodbye to friends and family, you will often reference when you expect to see them again. Say this when you will see someone soon.

If you want to make the phrase a bit more formal, you could say:

  • J’espère vous voir bientôt ! = I hope to see you soon !

À tout à l’heure ! (See you in a bit!; informal) 

If you expect to see a friend within the day, use À tout à l’heure ! which can mean:

  • See you in a while!
  • See you in a little bit!
  • See you later!

À plus tard ! (See you later!; informal) 

This one literally means “to later.” It’s another good informal option along with à bientôt and à tout à l’heure. 

Make it very casual by shortening it to à plus or even using the shorthand text message slang à+. 

The word tard (late) is the opposite of tôt (early). 

  • Alors je vous verrai plus tard ! = So I’ll see you later !

À tout de suite ! (See you in a minute!) 

The phrase tout de suite means “right away.” Use this goodbye when you know you’ll be right back, such as if you’re running into a store to make a quick purchase but will be returning. 

  • Je quitte le bureau. À tout de suite. = I’m leaving the office. See you in a minute. 

À demain ! (See you tomorrow!) 

This phrase specifically means that you have plans to see someone the next day. It’s a good option for colleagues at work, school, or if you have a specific plan for the following day. 

À lundi/mardi… etc (See you Monday/Tuesday…; informal)

Have you made a plan to get together with a new friend? You can reference the next day that you’ll see them, as long as you can say the days of the week in French. This is still fairly casual, so you wouldn’t use this way of saying goodbye in a business context. 

  • À jeudi ! = See you Thursday!
  • À samedi prochain ! = See you next Saturday!

À la prochaine ! (See you next time!)

If you don’t have a specific plan for when you’re seeing the person again, but you’re fairly certain you will, stick to the more general À la prochaine ! 

Salut ! (See you!; informal) 

A very casual goodbye as well as a friendly “hello” in French, the word salut can mean either “hi” or “bye” in French. Save this one for close friends or family with whom you’d use tu vs. vous. 

  • Salut grand-mère. = Bye, Grandma.
    • Salut Marie. = Bye, Marie.

Ciao ! (Bye!; informal)

French speakers and others have borrowed Ciao ! from Italian. In Italian, people use ciao as both a greeting and a goodbye, but it’s only a casual “bye” in French. 

Bisous ! (Kisses!)

The way the French often give each other two or more “air kisses” near each cheek is called faire la bise and is a significant French gesture. 

Sign off on a friendly message, email, or letter between close friends or family with the word bisous, which refers to the kisses you might give if you were saying goodbye in person. 

Adieu (Farewell) 

This farewell in French is generally reserved for when there’s no expectation of seeing the person again. It’s derived from à (to) and Dieu (God). In today’s age of connection, it might be entirely possible to keep in touch, so saying adieu might carry a weight of finality. You’ll see this in stories and texts where characters part ways forever. 

In some specific regions, it may be more common, as it’s quite similar to adiós (“goodbye” in Spanish), but if you hope to communicate with the person again someday, steer clear of adieu. 

Signing off in written correspondence

Many of the above goodbyes in French are appropriate for friendly in-person communication and could also be fine in a friendly text or email. But if you’re using formal writing, such as introducing yourself to a host family for the first time or requesting a business meeting, you’ll want to know how to say goodbye in French in more professional correspondence. Here are a few options. 

French English
Amitiés, Best wishes, (friendly) 
Bien à vous,  Yours truly (respectful, but you know the person) 
Cordialement,  Kind regards, (safe for most professional correspondence)
Je vous prie d’agréer, (cher/chère Monsieur/Madame ___), l’expression de mes salutations distinguées, Yours sincerely, (very formal closing formula) 
Meilleurs salutations,  Best wishes, (professional)
Sincères salutations,  Yours sincerely, (professional)
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