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View synonyms for au revoir

au revoir

[ oh ruh-vwar; English oh ruh-vwahr ]

interjection

, French.
  1. until we see each other again; goodbye for the present.


au revoir

/ o rəvwar /

sentence substitute

  1. goodbye
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of au revoir1

literally: to the seeing again
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Example Sentences

Tracy McNicoll on how Francois Hollande said au revoir to former president Sarkozy.

I shall await you on Monday; now I must no longer trespass on your time—au revoir.

Bring me the officers to-morrow at this hour, Monsieur Beverley—au revoir.

He lay awake, featuring Fleur—as they called it—recalling her words, especially that "Au revoir!"

With an au revoir of white hands from the coaches, the rest went on to the house of relatives and friends.

Julie said some words to Picard, and with a little au revoir to John, went away.

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More About Au Revoir

What does au revoir mean?

Au revoir is a way to say goodbye for now. 

Au revoir is a French term that means “until we see each other again.” It is used by English speakers who speak French or who are interacting in some way with French culture, such as when visiting France or talking with someone who speaks French. Some people use it to give a conversation a French flair, either in seriousness or spoofing French culture.

Sometimes, au revoir will be used alongside other well-known French phrases such as bonjour (“hello”), oui-oui (an emphatic “yes”), or mon chéri. Bonjour and au revoir are typically some of the first terms French language students learn.

Normally, au revoir is used between French speakers who plan to see each other again. But similar to see you later in English, the term may be used informally between strangers who have no plans to ever see each other again. 

Similar phrases for goodbye that English speakers sometimes adopt from other languages include the German auf Wiedersehen, the Spanish hasta la vista, the Italian arrivederci, the Russian do svidániya, and the Hindi phir milenge

Example: Laksme was sad to say au revoir to Paris as she headed home.

Where does au revoir mean?

The first records of the term au revoir in English come from around the 1690s. It is directly taken from French.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for au revoir?

What are some words that often get used in discussing au revoir?

How is au revoir used in real life?

Au revoir is used most often by people while speaking French, but it’s also sometimes adopted into English as a farewell. 

 

Try using au revoir!

True or False?

Au revoir is only used by French speakers.

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