French Phrase
À bientôt
Meaning
This is a standard French farewell used when you expect to see the person again in the relatively near future. It conveys a sense of anticipation for the next meeting without specifying an exact time. It is more informal than 'Au revoir' but still perfectly acceptable in most social and professional contexts.
When to use
Use this phrase when parting ways with friends, colleagues, or acquaintances whom you plan to see again soon, whether that is later the same day or within a few weeks. It is the go-to phrase for ending a pleasant conversation on a positive note.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Àbientôt
Preposition À
The preposition 'à' is used in many time-related expressions to mean 'until' or 'at'.
Bientôt
An adverb meaning 'soon'. It is a compound of 'bien' (well) and 'tôt' (early).
🗨In Conversation
Merci pour le café, c'était super !
Thanks for the coffee, it was great!
De rien ! À bientôt.
You're welcome! See you soon.
✕Common Mistakes
Au bientôt
Always use the preposition 'à' for time-based farewells; 'au' is a contraction of 'à le' and is grammatically incorrect here.
À bientôt
Avoid using this if you do not expect to see the person again for a very long time or ever; in those cases, 'Au revoir' is more appropriate.
↔Alternatives
À tout à l'heure
See you in a little while (later today)
À plus tard
See you later
À demain
See you tomorrow
Cultural Tip
In France, using 'À bientôt' is seen as warmer and more engaging than a simple 'Au revoir'. In very casual settings, especially among young people, you might hear the shortened version 'À plus', where the 's' at the end is clearly pronounced.