French Leave is a term used to describe an unauthorized absence from work or school. It is also known as 'playing HOOKY' or 'going AWOL'. ADIEU is a French word meaning goodbye, and is often used in the phrase 'au revoir et ADIEU', which translates to 'goodbye and farewell'. HOOKY is another term for playing truant, or skipping school or work without permission. AWOL stands for Absent Without Leave, and is a military term for unauthorized absence from duty.