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Lesson 9 of 240

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Have a good evening in French

Later the same day, Sam is leaving Café des Tilleuls. Odile sends him off from the zinc counter.

A polite yak is still at the next table. He says he will see Sam later, then does not stand.

By the end, you'll wish someone a good day, evening, or weekend, say see you later today, and let a friend go.

Bonne journée is a goodbye as you leave. It is never the first hello at the door.

By the end of this lesson

Wish someone a good day, evening or weekend as you leave, and say you'll see them later today.

  • Bonne journée.Have a good day
  • Bonne soirée.Have a good evening
  • Bon week-end.Have a good weekend
  • À tout à l'heure.See you later today
  • Je te laisse.I'll let you go
  • Toi aussi.You too

Scene — later the same day

Same Friday, later on rue des Tilleuls. Sam has his mustard backpack on and is leaving Café des Tilleuls.

Odile watches from the zinc counter. The window table still has its blank brass sign.

Gaspard sits at the table next to it on two chairs. His café crème is still full and cold.

The café interior in lower afternoon light, with Sam paused in the doorway, Odile watching from the zinc, and Gaspard on two chairs beside an empty window table and a full cold coffee.

Learn — a good day and later

Six short lines cover a good day, a good evening, a good weekend, see you later today, and two friend lines.

You'll also get I'll let you go, and you too.

  1. Odile looks up from the zinc and raises an open palm in a daytime farewell toward the door.

    Bonne journée.

    Have a good day

    When to use it: Say this as you leave a shop or café in the day.

    Learn it as one piece for a daytime goodbye.

  2. Gaspard stays seated on two chairs and lifts a hand in a slow late-day goodbye beside an untouched full coffee.

    Bonne soirée.

    Have a good evening

    When to use it: Say this as you leave once it is evening.

    Learn it as one piece for an evening goodbye.

  3. Sam is halfway out the café door, mustard backpack on, looking back with a broad weekend wave.

    Bon week-end.

    Have a good weekend

    When to use it: Say this as you leave on Friday or Saturday.

    Learn it as one piece for a weekend goodbye.

    Say it: The on in Bon is a nasal sound.

  4. From the doorway over Sam’s shoulder, Odile leans on the zinc and gives a small wave that means later the same day.

    À tout à l'heure.

    See you later today

    When to use it: Say this when you will see them later today.

    Learn it as one piece for later the same day.

    Say it: In « l'heure », the a of la is elided before heure.

  5. In profile at the door edge, Sam turns toward the street with a wrapping-up nod, mustard backpack on.

    Je te laisse.

    I'll let you go

    When to use it: Say this to a friend when you end the chat.

    Learn it as one piece with a friend, not staff.

  6. From a low angle near the door, Odile leans on the zinc with head tilted and answers with a small reciprocal weekend wave.

    Toi aussi.

    You too

    When to use it: Say this back to a friend who wished you well.

    Learn it as one piece to return a goodbye.

Story — he does not stand

Watch Sam leave the café later the same day. Odile sends him off, and Gaspard stays seated in his chair.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. The light is lower. Odile looks up from the counter.
  2. OdileBonne journée.Have a good day.
  3. SamBonne journée.Have a good day.
  4. Gaspard looks at the door, then at his cold café crème.
  5. GaspardBonne soirée.Have a good evening.
  6. SamToi aussi.You too.
  7. GaspardÀ tout à l'heure.See you later today.
  8. He does not stand. The window table stays empty.
  9. SamJe te laisse.I'll let you go.
  10. Sam is at the door. Odile calls after him.
  11. OdileBon week-end.Have a good weekend.
  12. SamBon week-end. Au revoir.Have a good weekend. Goodbye.

Practice — day or weekend

Ten quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What do you say?

    You are leaving the café in the early afternoon. Odile looks at you.

  3. What does it mean?

    Bonne soirée.

  4. Match the pairs

    French

    Bonne journée.Drop the English here
    Bonne soirée.Drop the English here
    Bon week-end.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its French, or tap one and then the other.

  5. Fill the gap

    See you later today

    À tout à ____.

  6. Build the line

    I'll let you go

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Swap the word

    You are leaving your friend Gaspard at his table.

    Je ____ laisse.

  8. Pick the reply

    Gaspard says:

    Bonne soirée.

    Have a good evening.

    And you reply with:

  9. Fill the gap

    Have a good weekend

    Bon ____-end.

  10. What do you say?

    You walk into the café after dark. Odile looks up and waits.

Say it — say it as you leave

Now you're Sam leaving the café later the same day. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. OdileBonne journée.Have a good day.
  2. Sam (you)Return her goodbye as you leave. It is still day.

    Bonne journée.

    Have a good day

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
Bonne journée.Have a good day
Bonne soirée.Have a good evening
Bon week-end.Have a good weekend
À tout à l'heure.See you later today
Je te laisse.I'll let you go
Toi aussi.You too
Next: lesson 10Yes and no

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these goodbyes handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your leaving lines ready for the door.

Open Yak Cards