Learn French: Au revoir, Madame !

Au revoir, Madame !

Goodbye, madam!

Breakdown of Au revoir, Madame !

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Questions & Answers about Au revoir, Madame !

What does au revoir actually translate to literally?

It literally translates to "to the seeing again." The word au is a combination of à (to) and le (the), while revoir is the verb meaning "to see again." It is similar to the English idea of saying "Until we see each other again!"

Why is there a space before the exclamation mark at the end?

That is a standard rule in French typing! Unlike in English, French typography requires a space before "two-part" punctuation marks. This includes exclamation marks (!), question marks (?), colons (:), and semicolons (;).

Should I use Madame for any woman I say goodbye to?

You should use Madame for any adult woman you don't know personally, as a polite equivalent to "Ma'am" or "Mrs." In the past, people often used Mademoiselle for younger, unmarried women, but today Madame is the standard, respectful choice for adult women regardless of their marital status.

Is it necessary to add Madame when saying goodbye, or is just Au revoir enough?

While just Au revoir is perfectly understood, adding Madame (or Monsieur for a man) is considered standard good manners in French culture. Saying just Au revoir to a shopkeeper or stranger can sometimes sound a little bit abrupt or impolite to French ears.