Meaning
To bid farewell verbally.
Cultural Background
In France, it is considered a 'social sin' to enter or leave a small shop without a verbal greeting or farewell to the staff. Quebecers often use 'Bonjour' to mean goodbye, which is a remnant of older French usage. However, 'Au revoir' is still perfectly understood. Saying goodbye is often a long process involving asking about the health of the other person's family members. Similar to France, but you might hear 'À tantôt' which means 'see you in a little while', often used as a specific type of 'au revoir'.
The 'Au revoir' Loop
In France, people often say 'Au revoir' multiple times as they walk away. It's a way to soften the departure.
Add a Wish
Always pair 'Au revoir' with 'Bonne journée' (Have a good day) or 'Bonne soirée' (Have a good evening) for maximum politeness.
Meaning
To bid farewell verbally.
The 'Au revoir' Loop
In France, people often say 'Au revoir' multiple times as they walk away. It's a way to soften the departure.
Add a Wish
Always pair 'Au revoir' with 'Bonne journée' (Have a good day) or 'Bonne soirée' (Have a good evening) for maximum politeness.
Don't just wave
In French culture, a silent wave is often seen as dismissive. Always add the verbal 'Au revoir'.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'dire' and the preposition.
Je ______ au revoir ______ mon professeur.
Je dis (present tense) + à + le (contracted to au).
Which sentence is the most polite when leaving a bakery?
Vous quittez la boulangerie. Que dites-vous ?
'Au revoir' is the standard polite form for shops.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Il est tard, je dois rentrer. B: D'accord. ______ à ta famille de ma part !
Trick question! While you are leaving, you 'say hello' (dis bonjour) to people who aren't there. You 'dis au revoir' to the person you are currently with.
Match the phrase to the situation.
1. Dire adieu / 2. Dire au revoir / 3. Filer à l'anglaise
Adieu is permanent, au revoir is standard, filer à l'anglaise is secret.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Au Revoir vs. Adieu
Practice Bank
4 exercisesJe ______ au revoir ______ mon professeur.
Je dis (present tense) + à + le (contracted to au).
Vous quittez la boulangerie. Que dites-vous ?
'Au revoir' is the standard polite form for shops.
A: Il est tard, je dois rentrer. B: D'accord. ______ à ta famille de ma part !
Trick question! While you are leaving, you 'say hello' (dis bonjour) to people who aren't there. You 'dis au revoir' to the person you are currently with.
1. Dire adieu / 2. Dire au revoir / 3. Filer à l'anglaise
Adieu is permanent, au revoir is standard, filer à l'anglaise is secret.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss, a waiter, or your grandmother.
Yes, 'Au revoir' is the greeting itself. 'Dire au revoir' is the verb phrase describing the act.
'Salut' is informal, like 'Hi' or 'Bye'. Use it with friends, but never in a shop.
It's an idiom meaning 'to kiss your money goodbye' (to lose it).
In social settings with friends, yes, 'la bise' is common. In professional settings, a handshake is better.
Yes. In modern French, it implies you might never see the person again.
You can say 'Au revoir tout le monde !' or 'Je vous dis au revoir à tous !'
It means to leave a place without saying goodbye to anyone, usually to avoid an awkward situation.
Yes, it's very common and informal, borrowed from Italian.
'Partir' is the physical act of leaving. 'Dire au revoir' is the verbal act of saying goodbye.
Related Phrases
Prendre congé
synonymTo take one's leave
Faire ses adieux
specialized formTo say one's final goodbyes
Saluer
similarTo greet or salute
Se quitter
similarTo leave each other
Dire bonjour
contrastTo say hello
