Cool MateAu revoir vs Farewell vs Goodbye
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Au revoir
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Farewell
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Goodbye
Top 2,000 (common)A1
Most common: Goodbye
| Au revoir | Farewell | Goodbye | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //əʊ ʁəˈvwaʁ//🇺🇸 //oʊ rəˈvwɑr// | 🇬🇧 //fɛəˈwɛl//🇺🇸 //fɛrˈwɛl// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌɡʊdˈbaɪ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌɡʊdˈbaɪ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Goodbye in French. | A way to say goodbye. | A way to say that you are leaving someone. |
| Example | She waved and said, 'Au revoir!' as he left for France. | She waved a heartfelt farewell as the train departed. | Goodbye! It was great to meet you. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | - | A1 |
| Collocations | say au revoir, bid au revoir, wave au revoir | bid farewell, say farewell, farewell party | say goodbye, bid goodbye, goodbye kiss, goodbye message, goodbye party |
| Antonyms | - | greeting, welcome | hello, greeting |
| Common mistakes | Using 'au revoir' in casual messages where 'salut' would be more appropriate., Confusing it with 'adieu', which is a more final farewell. | Used too casually in everyday settings., Confused with 'farewell' as a noun and verb., Overused when a simple 'goodbye' would suffice. | Using 'goodbye' in overly casual contexts with close friends., Mixing up with 'goodbye' and 'bye' in different contexts., Confusing 'goodbye' with 'farewell' which is more formal. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in French-speaking contexts. More formal than 'salut' but can be used casually. Avoid in very informal situations. | Use 'farewell' in formal situations or when parting for a long time. It's less common in casual conversations. | Use 'goodbye' in both casual and formal situations. It’s appropriate when leaving friends or in professional settings. It can feel too formal with very close friends or family where 'bye' or 'see you' might be preferred. |
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Frequently asked questions: Au revoir vs Farewell vs Goodbye
What's the difference between Au revoir, Farewell, and Goodbye?
Au revoir: Goodbye in French. Farewell: A way to say goodbye. Goodbye: A way to say that you are leaving someone.
Which is more common: Au revoir, Farewell, and Goodbye?
Goodbye is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Au revoir: She waved and said, 'Au revoir!' as he left for France. Farewell: She waved a heartfelt farewell as the train departed. Goodbye: Goodbye! It was great to meet you.
Can I use Au revoir, Farewell, and Goodbye interchangeably?
Not always. Au revoir, Farewell, and Goodbye are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.