Amicalement + Farewell & How To Say Goodbye in French
Wednesday, March 02, 2016
In case I did not say a proper goodbye, before leaving to see my family in Mexico, I offer you now dozens of au revoirs to make up for it! The next post will go out around March 10th. Miss you already!
TODAY'S WORD
quitter (kee-tay) verb
1. to leave, to quit
2. to give up, vacate, forsake
3. to exit
FRENCH PRONUNCIATION
Il faut se quitter souvent pour s'aimer toujours.
You need to leave each other often to love each other forever.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
I am fascinated with farewells (of the e-mail kind) when I'm not downright fussing over how to end my own courriels. Signing off after even the briefest note is cause for over-reflection, and I sometimes stare for minutes at the blank screen before relying on the same old (boring?) standby:
Amicalement,
Kristi
While gros bisous still sounds a little too intimate, I ask myself if tchao--something I love the sound and French spelling of--isn't a bit hip or sort of pretentious sounding (tchao darling!)? Oh well, I never know, but I am game to try all of the farewells noted below. I hope you will too!
Ways to sign-off or say goodbye in French:
à bientôt = (see) you soon
à très bientôt = (see) you real soon
adieu = goodbye (forever)
affectueusement = affectionately (love)
à la prochaine = until next time
à tout à l'heure = toodeloo
amicalement = (literally: "in a friendly way") yours, best wishes, regards
amitiés = (amitié = friendship) yours, best wishes, regards
amitiés sincères = sincere regards
à plus (or "à+" or "@+") = later
au plaisir = with the pleasure of seeing you again
au revoir = goodbye
avec toute mon amitié = with all my friendship
bien à toi = yours
bien à vous = yours
bien affectueusement = yours affectionately
bien amicalement = best wishes
bien amicalement à vous = best wishes to you
bien cordialement = warmly
bien des choses à tous = best to all
bien/très respectueusement = with much respect
bisous = kisses
bonne continuation = keep up the good work
bonne journée = have a nice day
cordialement = cordially
d'un (d'une) ami(e) = from a friend
encore merci = thanks again
grosse bise = big kiss
gros bisous = big kisses
je serai toujours là pour vous = I'll always be there for you
je t'embrasse (je vous embrasse) = big kiss, with love
meilleures salutations = best salutations
meilleurs sentiments = best wishes
merci = thanks
mes amitiés = my best wishes, my best regards
mes salutations respectueuses = yours faithfully
mille baisers = a thousand kisses
plein de baisers = lots of kisses
salut = bye
salutations = salutations
salutations distinguées = distinguished salutations
tchao (also à tchao!) = ciao, bye
tendresse = fondly
tiens bon (tenez bon) = take care, hang in there
ton ami(e) = your friend
toute mon amitié = very best wishes
très cordiales salutations = warm salutations
votre ami(e) = your friend
...and last, but not least:
Kristi
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à plus! Catch you later! Thanks for reading these posts and for checking out these French-themed products:
Paris Peace T-shirt - "so many people have stopped to ask me where I got it" -Betty. Click here
Tour de France Roadmap T-Shirt and don't miss the boxer briefs! Click here.
Beautiful French Kitchen Towels by Garnier-Thiebaut. Order here.
Espadrilles - seen them everywhere this time of year -in the south of France and elsewhere! Click here.
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For more online reading: The Lost Gardens: A Story of Two Vineyards and a Sobriety