Thanking your host and saying goodbye at the end of an evening

• Host
  Listen

  Avec grand plaisir. On a hâte de voir ton nouveau chez-toi.

  We'd love that. We can't wait to see your new place.

• Guest
  Listen

  Bon, je vais récupérer mes affaires. Mon manteau, il est où, déjà ?

  Right, I'll grab my things. My coat — where was it again?

• Host
  Listen

  Je l'ai pendu dans le garde-robe de l'entrée. Tu veux que je t'aide ?

  I hung it in the closet by the door. Want me to help you?

• Guest
  Listen

  Non non, ça va aller. Tu n'auras pas oublié mon plat de service, par hasard ?

  No no, I've got it. You didn't forget my serving dish by any chance?

• Host
  Listen

  Ah, bien vu ! Je l'ai lavé, il est sur le comptoir. Le voilà.

  Oh, good catch! I washed it, it's on the counter. Here it is.

• Guest
  Listen

  Merci ! Bon, on s'embrasse et on file. Encore merci pour tout, c'était vraiment génial.

  Thanks! Right, hugs and we're off. Thanks again for everything, it was really great.

• Host
  Listen

  Fais attention en rentrant, il fait noir dehors. Tu me feras un message en arrivant ?

  Be careful on the way back, it's dark outside. Will you send me a text when you get home?

• Guest
  Listen

  Promis ! Bonne fin de soirée, et à très vite.

  I promise! Have a good rest of the evening, and see you very soon.

• Host
  Listen

  Bonne soirée à toi aussi. Bonne route !

  Have a good evening too. Safe trip home!

Vocabulary

• se faire tardto be getting late— « Il commence à se faire tard » is the standard polite way to start wrapping up.
• prendre congéto take one's leave— More formal than « partir » — frames the goodbye as a polite ritual.
• une tisanea herbal tea— Often offered late in the evening as a no-caffeine option.
• la recettethe recipe— Asking for the recipe is a strong compliment to the cook.
• recevoirto host / to have over— « C'est moi qui reçois » = it's my turn to host.
• récupérer ses affairesto collect one's belongings— Coat, bag, scarf, the dish you brought…
• le plat de servicethe serving dish— If you brought a dish, you'll usually leave with it — washed, ideally.
• faire un messageto send a text— Québécois shorthand for « envoyer un texto » — letting the host know you got home safely.
• bonne routesafe trip / drive safely— Said to someone heading home, by car or otherwise.

Culture note

In Quebec, leaving is rarely done all at once: you announce that you're starting to think about going, you chat for a few more minutes, you thank your host once or twice, and then you go. Sending a quick message to the host once you're home, to say the trip went well, is appreciated — a small but meaningful gesture.

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