Bedeutung
Say goodbye or depart from a place or person.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'Art of Politesse' is central to French identity. Taking leave formally is a way to show you respect the social hierarchy and the time others have given you. While 'prendre congé' is understood, Quebecois French can be slightly more direct. However, in formal government or legal settings in Quebec, the phrase remains standard. In international diplomacy, French is often the language of protocol. 'Prendre congé' is a technical term for the official end of an audience with a head of state. 19th-century French novels are full of characters 'prenant congé'. It often signals a turning point in a scene or a character's emotional state.
The 'De' Rule
Always remember the 'de' if you mention the person. 'Prendre congé de quelqu'un' is the full formula.
Don't over-use it!
If you use this with your French boyfriend/girlfriend, they will think you are breaking up with them in a very weird, formal way!
Bedeutung
Say goodbye or depart from a place or person.
The 'De' Rule
Always remember the 'de' if you mention the person. 'Prendre congé de quelqu'un' is the full formula.
Don't over-use it!
If you use this with your French boyfriend/girlfriend, they will think you are breaking up with them in a very weird, formal way!
The French Goodbye
In France, 'prendre congé' is often followed by a 'merci' and a 'bonne fin de journée'.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'prendre congé'.
Après l'entretien, le candidat a ______ ______ du jury.
The sentence is in the past (passé composé), so we use 'pris congé'.
Which sentence is correct for a formal situation?
You are leaving a formal dinner at the embassy.
'Prendre congé' is the appropriate formal register for an embassy dinner.
Match the phrase with its register.
Match the following:
Prendre congé is formal, s'en aller/partir are neutral, and se casser is slang.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
Directeur: 'Merci pour ce rapport.' Employé: 'Merci Monsieur. Je vais ______ ______.'
In a professional setting with a director, 'prendre congé' is the most suitable formal exit.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Leaving: Formal vs Informal
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenAprès l'entretien, le candidat a ______ ______ du jury.
The sentence is in the past (passé composé), so we use 'pris congé'.
You are leaving a formal dinner at the embassy.
'Prendre congé' is the appropriate formal register for an embassy dinner.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
Prendre congé is formal, s'en aller/partir are neutral, and se casser is slang.
Directeur: 'Merci pour ce rapport.' Employé: 'Merci Monsieur. Je vais ______ ______.'
In a professional setting with a director, 'prendre congé' is the most suitable formal exit.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, it is very common in formal emails to conclude a message, e.g., 'Je vous prie de m'excuser, je dois prendre congé de cette discussion.'
It is 'prendre congé' without the article. Adding 'le' changes the meaning or makes it grammatically incorrect in this idiom.
'Partir' is a general verb for leaving. 'Prendre congé' is a formal social ritual of saying goodbye.
It is formal, but not obsolete. It is still used daily in professional and high-level social contexts in France.
Only if you are being funny or sarcastic. It is too formal for family settings.
No, you can say 'Il est temps de prendre congé' (It is time to leave) without specifying from whom.
Yes, it is standard formal French used across the Francophonie, including Belgium and Switzerland.
Use the passé composé: 'J'ai pris congé'.
It's better to say 'quitter mon travail' or 'démissionner'. 'Prendre congé' is more about the social interaction.
The slang equivalent of the *action* is 'se casser', but they are used in completely different worlds.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Prendre des congés
similarTo take vacation days.
Donner congé
contrastTo dismiss someone or give notice (e.g., to a tenant).
Prendre la porte
contrastTo leave abruptly or be kicked out.
Filer à l'anglaise
contrastTo leave without saying goodbye.
Prendre congé de ses sens
specialized formTo lose one's mind/senses.
