Saying goodbye in French is more than just "au revoir." When you truly want to express care and concern for someone, there are many beautiful and nuanced ways to say "take care." Whether you're parting ways for a short while or a longer period, choosing the right phrase can add a touch of warmth and sincerity to your farewell.

Ready to enrich your French vocabulary beyond the basics? Let's explore 9 wonderful ways to say "take care" in French, each suitable for different situations and relationships!

The most common and direct way to say "take care of yourself" – prends soin de toi / prenez soin de vous

Prends soin de toi (and its formal/plural counterpart prenez soin de vous) is the standard, most widely used phrase in French to tell someone to "take care of yourself" or "look after yourself".

This essential phrase comes in two main forms, depending on who you're speaking to and the level of formality: * Prends soin de toi (pronounced prahn swahn duh twah): Used when speaking to one person informally (using 'tu'). * Prenez soin de vous (pronounced pruh-nay swahn duh voo): Used when speaking to one person formally, or to multiple people (using 'vous').

Literally, prendre soin de soi translates to "to take care of oneself." The verb prendre means "to take," soin means "care," and de toi / de vous means "of yourself."

This phrase is incredibly versatile and commonly used in various situations, much like its English equivalent. It's often said as a warm farewell, especially when you won't see someone for a while, or when you know they are facing a challenging situation, illness, or simply need to prioritize their well-being.

Beyond a simple goodbye, prends soin de toi conveys genuine empathy and concern for the other person's health and welfare. It's a way to show you care about them and want them to be well.

You can intensify the sentiment by adding bien (well) after prends or prenez to emphasize the importance of taking good care: Prends *bien* soin de toi (Take good care of yourself).

It's important to note that while it means 'take care of yourself,' it's not typically used in the sense of 'be careful' (e.g., when crossing the street). For warnings about immediate danger, French speakers would use fais attention (be careful) or sois prudent(e) (be cautious).

If someone tells you prends soin de toi, a common and polite response would be Toi aussi, prends soin de toi (You too, take care of yourself) or simply Merci, toi aussi (Thanks, you too).

💡 * Au revoir et prends soin de toi ! (Goodbye and take care of yourself!)

Je sais que tu as beaucoup de travail, alors prends bien soin de toi. (I know you have a lot of work, so take good care of yourself.)

C'était un plaisir de vous voir, Madame Dubois. Prenez soin de vous. (It was a pleasure to see you, Mrs. Dubois. Take care of yourself.)

Nous partons en vacances. Prenez soin de vous pendant notre absence. (We're going on vacation. Take care of yourselves during our absence.)

Après cette longue maladie, il est important que tu prennes soin de toi. (After this long illness, it's important that you take care of yourself.)

To tell someone to "be careful" or "pay attention" – fais attention / faites attention

To tell someone to “be careful” or “pay attention” in French, you’ll typically use the imperative phrase fais attention (for an informal singular 'you') or faites attention (for a formal singular or plural 'you').

Literally translating to “make attention,” this versatile idiom is used to convey both “be careful” and “pay attention,” depending on the context.

When you want to warn someone of potential danger or to handle something delicately, use fais attention or faites attention. For example, Fais attention à la marche ! (Watch your step!).

The phrase is also commonly used to instruct someone to focus or concentrate. A teacher might say, Faites attention à mon explication. (Pay attention to my explanation.).

The choice between fais and faites hinges on the level of formality and the number of people you are addressing, mirroring the 'tu' and 'vous' distinction in French.

You can also use faire attention à quelque chose/quelqu’un to mean “to take care of something/someone,” as in Il faut faire attention à ses affaires. (One must take care of one's belongings.)

💡 * Fais attention à la voiture! (Be careful of the car!)* Faites attention en traversant la rue. (Be careful crossing the street.)* Écoutez bien et faites attention à ce que je dis. (Listen carefully and pay attention to what I'm saying.)* Elle fait attention à sa santé. (She takes care of her health / She pays attention to her health.)* Fais attention, le sol est glissant. (Be careful, the floor is slippery.)

Wishing someone to "be well" or "stay healthy" (literally "carry yourself well") – porte-toi bien / portez-vous bien

When you want to wish someone well or hope they stay healthy in French, a common and elegant phrase you can use is porte-toi bien (informal) or portez-vous bien (formal/plural).

Literally, this phrase translates to "carry yourself well." This gives you a hint at its deeper meaning: it's not just about physical health, but also about maintaining good spirits and general well-being.

The choice between porte-toi bien and portez-vous bien depends on who you're talking to. Use porte-toi bien when addressing one person informally (like a friend or family member, using 'tu'). Use portez-vous bien for a formal address, when speaking to multiple people, or to show respect (using 'vous').

This expression is typically used as a farewell, especially when you won't see someone for a while, or if you know they are going through a period where good health or well-being might be a concern (e.g., traveling, recovering from illness, or a stressful time).

While often translated as 'take care' or 'stay healthy,' porte-toi bien carries a slightly more profound wish for overall good physical and mental state. It implies a desire for the person to maintain their well-being.

💡 *Au revoir, je te souhaite un bon voyage, porte-toi bien ! (Goodbye, I wish you a good trip, take care of yourself!)
*Nous partons en vacances, portez-vous bien ! (We're going on vacation, stay healthy/take care!)
*Après ton opération, il est important que tu te portes bien. (After your operation, it's important that you take good care of yourself.)
*Je suis content de vous avoir vus, portez-vous bien et à bientôt. (I'm happy to have seen you, take care and see you soon.)

An informal way to say "be careful" or "watch out" – fais gaffe / faites gaffe

In French, when you want to informally tell someone to "be careful" or "watch out," the expressions fais gaffe (for singular 'you') and faites gaffe (for plural or formal 'you') are widely used.

The choice between fais gaffe and faites gaffe depends on who you are addressing. Fais gaffe uses the informal tu form, while faites gaffe uses the vous form, suitable for multiple people or a single person you would address formally.

These phrases are employed in everyday situations where a quick, direct warning is needed, such as avoiding an obstacle, being mindful of a situation, or paying attention to a detail. They are more casual than the standard attention.

The word gaffe itself means 'blunder' or 'mistake,' so literally, faire gaffe means 'to make a mistake.' However, in this idiomatic context, it means 'to pay attention' or 'to watch out' to avoid one.

💡 * Fais gaffe à la marche ! (Watch out for the step!)

Faites gaffe, la route est glissante. (Be careful, the road is slippery.)

Il faut faire gaffe quand on traverse la rue. (You have to be careful when crossing the street.)

Fais gaffe de ne pas tomber. (Be careful not to fall.)

Faites gaffe à vos affaires. (Watch out for your belongings.)

To wish someone well for their future or continued journey – bonne continuation

To wish someone well for their future or continued journey – bonne continuation introduces a versatile French expression used to convey good wishes for someone's ongoing endeavors.

Bonne continuation literally translates to "good continuation." It's used to wish someone well as they continue an activity, a journey, a project, or a phase of their life. It implies that the person is already on a path and you're wishing them success or pleasantness for the remainder of it.

You'll hear bonne continuation in various contexts: when someone is leaving a job for another, when a colleague is going on a long-term project, or even at the end of a meeting where tasks are ongoing. It's a way to acknowledge their current path and express support for its future progress.

While similar to bon voyage (for travel) or bonne chance (good luck), bonne continuation specifically focuses on the ongoing nature of an activity or journey. It's less about the start or a singular event, and more about the sustained effort or duration.

This phrase is generally appropriate in most social and professional settings. It's polite and warm, making it suitable for both colleagues and acquaintances, as well as friends and family. It strikes a balance between formal and informal.

There isn't a single perfect English equivalent, but common translations include "all the best for what's next," "keep up the good work," "have a good continuation," or simply "best of luck with everything."

💡 * Au revoir et bonne continuation dans votre nouveau poste !

On se revoit la semaine prochaine. Bonne continuation pour le projet !

Vous partez en voyage demain ? Bon voyage, et bonne continuation pour la suite de votre périple !

Le cours est terminé pour aujourd'hui. Bonne continuation à tous !

Je te souhaite une bonne continuation dans tes études.

To advise someone to "stay in shape" or "keep fit" – garde la forme / gardez la forme

To advise someone to "stay in shape" or "keep fit" in French, the most natural and common expressions are garde la forme (informal singular) and gardez la forme (formal singular or plural). These phrases directly translate to "keep the shape" but convey the meaning of maintaining physical fitness.

The key verb here is garder, meaning "to keep" or "to guard." In these expressions, garder is used in the imperative mood, advising someone to maintain their physical condition. It's a versatile verb for preserving or holding onto something.

The choice between garde la forme and gardez la forme depends on your relationship with the person you're addressing. Use garde la forme when speaking to a friend, family member, or someone you would address with tu. Opt for gardez la forme for a more formal setting, when addressing an elder, a stranger, or a group of people (using the vous form).

These expressions are often used as a friendly farewell, a piece of advice, or a general encouragement. For instance, after a discussion about health or exercise, or when parting ways, you might hear or say one of these phrases to wish someone well and healthy.

💡 * N'oublie pas de faire du sport, garde la forme !

C'est important de bien manger et de garder la forme.

Après votre convalescence, essayez de garder la forme, Madame.

Allez les gars, gardez la forme pour le match de samedi !

Je te souhaite de bien te porter et de garder la forme.

When telling someone to "look after themselves," especially if unwell or recovering – soigne-toi bien / soignez-vous bien

When you want to tell someone to “look after themselves” in French, especially if they’re unwell, recovering, or going through a tough time, the common phrase to use is soigne-toi bien (informal singular) or soignez-vous bien (formal singular/plural).

Literally meaning “take good care of yourself,” this expression conveys a sense of caring and well-wishing. It's more profound than a simple goodbye, implying a need for self-care or recovery, often after an illness, a difficult period, or simply to encourage rest.

Remember to use soigne-toi bien when speaking to one person informally (e.g., a friend or family member). Use soignez-vous bien for formal situations, when addressing multiple people, or to show respect.

💡 * J'espère que tu te sentiras mieux bientôt, soigne-toi bien! (I hope you feel better soon, take good care of yourself!)

Vous avez eu une longue semaine, soignez-vous bien ce week-end. (You've had a long week, take good care of yourselves this weekend.)

Je suis désolé d'apprendre que tu es malade. Soigne-toi bien! (I'm sorry to hear you're sick. Take good care of yourself!)

Merci pour tout, soignez-vous bien et à bientôt. (Thanks for everything, take good care of yourselves and see you soon.)

A simple and common farewell that implies "take care until we meet again" – à bientôt

À bientôt is one of the most common and versatile ways to say goodbye in French. Literally translating to "see you soon," it's a staple in everyday conversations.

Beyond its literal translation, à bientôt carries a warm implication of "take care until we meet again." It suggests a clear expectation or hope of seeing the person again in the near future, making it a friendly and reassuring farewell.

This phrase is widely used in informal and semi-formal settings, suitable for friends, family, colleagues, and even shopkeepers you frequent. It's a general-purpose goodbye when you anticipate another encounter, even without a specific date set.

Unlike au revoir (goodbye, more general) or adieu (a more final goodbye), à bientôt specifically emphasizes the soon aspect of your next meeting. It's perfect when you're parting ways but know it's not for long.

💡 * Je dois y aller, à bientôt! (I have to go, see you soon!)

On se voit la semaine prochaine. À bientôt! (We'll see each other next week. See you soon!)

Merci pour le café, à bientôt! (Thanks for the coffee, see you soon!)

A general polite farewell, often carrying the implicit meaning of "take care" – au revoir

How do you say "goodbye" in French? The most common and universally polite way to say goodbye in French is au revoir.

Literally translated, au revoir means "until we see again." This etymology clearly indicates a hope or expectation of a future encounter, making it a warm yet formal farewell.

Au revoir is incredibly versatile and appropriate for almost any situation, whether you're leaving a shop, finishing a business meeting, or parting ways with friends. It's the go-to phrase when you want to be polite and respectful.

Beyond its literal translation, au revoir often carries the implicit meaning of "take care" or "until next time." It's a gentle wish for the other person's well-being until your paths cross again.

💡 *Au revoir, Monsieur Dupont! (Goodbye, Mr. Dupont!)
*Nous devons partir maintenant. Au revoir! (We have to leave now. Goodbye!)
*C'était un plaisir de vous voir. Au revoir et à bientôt! (It was a pleasure to see you. Goodbye and see you soon!)
*Au revoir, la France! Je reviendrai. (Goodbye, France! I will come back.)
*Passez une bonne journée, au revoir! (Have a good day, goodbye!)

Are there other ways to say 'take care' in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say 'take care' in French. However, the French language is rich with expressions, and you might encounter other phrases – from more formal or old-fashioned ones to regional variations or even contemporary slang.

If you're curious, you can always do an online search for 'comment dire prendre soin en ___' followed by a specific Francophone country or region to discover local nuances.

You might find some interesting alternative expressions. As always, make sure to check a word or phrase’s definition and try to see it used in context before incorporating it into your vocabulary.

Pay close attention as you read, watch, and listen to French media — you may discover different, more subtle ways people express 'take care' or 'farewell' depending on the situation.

And if you’re looking for more specific ways to express care, concern, or well-wishing in French, the WordReference entries for prendre soin or au revoir can be a great starting point for related vocabulary.

I hope you found this article helpful in understanding the nuances of saying 'take care' in French. Remember that true care often lies in the intention behind your words, regardless of the exact phrase chosen. Prenez soin de vous ! (Take care of yourselves!)

9 ways to say "take care" in French