How to Say Bye in French Like a Friend, Not a Textbook
Bye in French isn't always au revoir. Learn salut, ciao, à plus and the à-phrases French friends really use, with pronunciation and when each fits.
Casual ways to say bye in French include salut (bye - the same word as hi) and à plus /ah PLÜS/ (see you later). Au revoir is the neutral fallback that works everywhere, but it’s not what friends actually say to each other.
Quick answer
Casual ways to say bye in French include salut (bye - same word as hi), à plus /ah PLÜS/ (see you later), à bientôt (see you soon) and ciao. With strangers or in shops, stick to au revoir, often followed by bonne journée - have a good day.
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Salut and ciao: the two-way casual goodbyes
Salut works as both hello and goodbye - see salut as a greeting for the full picture. Ciao is fully at home in casual French too, sometimes spelled tchao: - Bon, j’y vais ! - Ciao, à demain !
The à-system: one pattern, six goodbyes
French builds a whole family of casual goodbyes from one template: à + [when you’ll meet again].
| Phrase | Pronunciation | Meaning | Time horizon |
|---|---|---|---|
| à tout de suite | /ah too duh SWEET/ | see you in a sec | minutes |
| à tout à l’heure | /ah too tah LUHR/ | see you in a bit | later today |
| à plus (tard) | /ah PLÜS/ | see you later | unspecified |
| à demain | /ah duh-MEHN/ | see you tomorrow | tomorrow |
| à bientôt | /ah byehn-TOH/ | see you soon | days/weeks |
| à lundi | /ah luhn-DEE/ | see you Monday | next occurrence of that day |
Note that the S in à plus is actually pronounced - unusual, since French final S is normally silent, but this shortened form keeps it audible.
Texting sign-offs
| Text | Full form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| a+ | à plus | see you later |
| bisous | - | kisses - friends/family closing |
| slt | salut | bye/hi |
When casual is wrong
With strangers, in shops, or at work: au revoir /oh ruh-VWAHR/ is the safe universal goodbye, often paired with bonne journée (have a good day) or, in the evening, bonne soirée. For the complete etiquette map, see every way to say goodbye in French and formal vs informal French.
Quick recap list
- Friend, right now → salut / ciao
- Friend, later today → à tout à l’heure
- Friend, tomorrow → à demain
- Text message → a+ / slt
- Stranger, shop, work → au revoir, bonne journée
Once salut and the à-family feel automatic, casual French goodbyes stop being something you translate and start being something you just say.
Sound like a friend, not a phrasebook
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Questions about this note
Does salut mean both hi and bye?
Yes - it's informal and works in both directions, like ciao.
What does à plus mean?
Short for à plus tard, 'see you later.' It's texted as a+, and unusually for French, the final S is actually pronounced.
Do French people say ciao?
Yes, very commonly in casual speech - often spelled tchao.
What's the difference between à tout à l'heure and à bientôt?
à tout à l'heure means later the same day; à bientôt is vaguer, covering days or weeks ahead.
Is au revoir formal?
It's neutral-polite and works everywhere. Casual circles just tend to prefer shorter, warmer alternatives like salut or à plus.