Skip to content

adieu

farewell

noun interjection ah-DYUH Less Common

Also means

goodbye

Usage Note

Adieu is a definitive farewell implying you may never meet again — far stronger than au revoir. The word literally contains Dieu (God), as in 'I commend you to God'. Faire ses adieux means 'to say one's final goodbyes'. Using adieu in an everyday parting sounds dramatic or ironic to French ears.

Examples

"Elle a dit adieu à sa famille."

Natural Translation

She said farewell to her family.

Explore French by topic