Yes, you can say "bonjour" as goodbye, especially in Quebec French where it's common, but in France, it's generally considered incorrect; "au revoir" (goodbye), "bonne journée" (have a good day), or "bonne soirée" (good evening) are the standard French ways to depart. While "bonjour" means "good day," using it to leave in France sounds odd, though it's a standard greeting for first encounters during the day.
In the summer, for example, it's still light out long after 5 PM, and people might greet you with “bonjour” even into the evening. Similarly, in winter, it may feel like evening comes earlier, so people might switch to “bonsoir” around 4 PM. The general rule is: “Bonjour” in the morning to late afternoon (around 5 PM).
The casual one: Salut!
About: Kind of functionally a French ciao or aloha, salut is a general greeting that can be used for both hello and goodbye. It's a word with many meanings (including salute, salvation, and cheers), and is generally informal but not rude or slangy.
1) “Au revoir” (“goodbye” – literally, “until we see each other again”) is the most common way of expressing that you hope to see someone again soon. If you're looking for a little variety, you can also use the equivalent expression “on se revoit bientôt” (“see you soon”).
In English, it's called a “French exit”—leaving quietly, without a word. But in France, they call it “partir à l'anglaise”—to leave the English way. It's a little cultural joke that cuts both ways, like a mirror reflecting a mirror.
"French Leave" was a mildly racist term for desertion. Not leaving a party. Like other phrases like "Dutch courage" or "Dutch uncle" (both implying falseness), they were a reflection of who we were fighting at the time.
Key Takeaways. In France, bonjour is the most polite and common way to say hello any time of day. Salut is very informal and is best used when saying hi to friends or people your age.
The 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle) in French learning means focusing on the 20% of vocabulary, grammar, and phrases that handle 80% of everyday conversations, allowing for rapid progress and practical communication by prioritizing high-frequency words, common sentence structures, and essential situations like the bakery or doctor. Instead of learning everything, you learn the right things (like "je," "il," "elle," common verbs) to quickly become functional and build confidence in real-life French.
Bonsoir is both hello and good bye.
Both are used to greet people but not a the same time of the day. Say "Bonjour" until the end of the afternoon and "bonsoir" once the evening starts. Bonjour is a greeting and only a greeting at the difference of "bonsoir" that can be used to say good bye in the evening and evening ONLY.
To signal that you want to pay in a café or restaurant, you can use: L'addition, s'il vous plaît. The bill, please.
If you say something has a certain je ne sais quoi, you'll sound fancy instead of inarticulate. In French, je ne sais quoi literally means "I don't know what." It's used to capture an indescribable, special distinguishing feature, or to name some unnamable quality.
To respond to "Ça va?", use simple, context-dependent answers like "Ça va bien, merci, et toi/vous?" (Very well, thanks, and you?) for positive, polite replies, or "Pas mal" (Not bad), "Bof" (Meh/So-so), or even "Ça va mal" (Not well) for more nuanced feelings, often followed by asking back "Et toi?" (informal) or "Et vous?" (formal).
The term, which originated as “French leave” in the mid-1700s, denotes leaving a party without saying goodbye to one's host.
17 Smart Ways to Say Goodbye in English
Yes, the French absolutely say "je voudrais" (I would like), and it's the standard, polite way to order or make requests, especially in shops and restaurants, though native speakers often use alternatives like "je vais prendre" or "je prendrai" for ordering food to sound more natural, while "je veux" (I want) is considered too direct or demanding.
The "5 to 7 rule" in France, or le cinq à sept, traditionally refers to a secret, after-work rendezvous (5 PM to 7 PM) with a lover for an illicit sexual encounter before returning home to family, but it's also used more broadly for discreet romantic meetings or even just a casual happy hour, though its meaning varies by region, with Québec using it more for social gatherings than affairs.
The hardest French tense is often considered the Subjunctive Mood, especially for English speakers, because it expresses doubt, emotion, or hypotheticals and has unique trigger phrases, but the Imperfect vs. Passé Composé (Past Tense) distinction, irregular verbs, and tricky particles like y and en also pose major challenges. While the subjunctive's use is tricky, its present tense conjugation can be regular; the true struggle lies in knowing when to use it and differentiating it from other past tenses.
Salut is your casual "hi" or "hey." This informal French greeting works with friends, people your age, coworkers you're friendly with. Don't use it with your boss, elderly people, or anyone you just met in a formal setting.
Here are some ways to say goodbye (or otherwise end a conversation) in French:
Bonne journée. Good day. This phrase is simple yet effective and can be used in any setting, whether formal or informal. It's perfect for friends, family members, colleagues, or even strangers you interact with during the day.
Dutch leave (uncountable) An absence without permission.
The individual goodbyes are exhausting and so time consuming. For some gatherings it can take an hour just to say goodbye - ridiculous! I have always felt the “Irish exit” was a much politer way for all.
French speakers use c'est bon to say: okay / it's fine I understand let's begin that's enough all set The meaning changes entirely depending on context — and guessing wrong can sound confusing or abrupt.