Mastering French greetings isn’t just about talking; it’s about connecting. In French culture, politeness is key. A simple ‘Bonjour,’ ‘Bonsoir,’ or ‘Salut’ does more than start a conversation—it immediately sets a friendly tone.
When you use these basic greetings, you’re not just speaking French, you’re stepping into a whole way of interacting. It’s about respect and making a good impression from the get-go. Knowing how to say hello in French lets you get closer to people, understand their customs, and enjoy their culture more. It’s straightforward, but it makes a big difference.
The Most Common French Greetings
Mastering basic French greetings helps you make a great first impression. This guide explores the most common phrases used in France for saying hello and goodbye, ensuring you can interact gracefully in everyday conversations.
| French Greeting | English Translation | Usage/Context |
|---|---|---|
| Bonjour | Good morning / Hello | Used during the day (morning and early afternoon) |
| Bonsoir | Good evening | Used in the evening, typically after 5 PM |
| Salut | Hi / Bye | Informal greeting used among friends or family |
| Coucou | Hey / Hi | Very informal, playful greeting often used among close friends |
| Comment ça va ? | How are you? | Informal way to ask someone how they are |
| Ça va ? | How’s it going? | Shortened, casual version of “Comment ça va ?” |
| Bienvenue | Welcome | Used to welcome someone to a place or event |
| Enchanté(e) | Nice to meet you | Used when meeting someone for the first time |
| Bonne nuit | Good night | Used before going to bed |
| À bientôt | See you soon | Used when saying goodbye with the expectation of seeing them again |
| À demain | See you tomorrow | Used when you plan to see the person the next day |
| À plus tard / À plus | See you later | Casual way to say “see you later” |
| Au revoir | Goodbye | Formal way to say goodbye |
| Merci | Thank you | Used to express gratitude |
| De rien | You’re welcome | Informal response to “Merci” |
Informal Ways to Say Hello
Whether you’re catching up with an old friend or meeting someone new, casual greetings can set a warm, friendly tone. Here are forty laid-back ways to say hello, each adding a personal touch to your everyday encounters.
- Hey there! – Salut ! (Hi!)
- Hiya! – Coucou ! (Hi there!)
- Howdy! – Comment ça va ? (How’s it going?)
- What’s up? – Quoi de neuf ? (What’s new?)
- Hey! – Hé ! (Hey!)
- Yo! – Yo ! (Yo!)
- Hello! – Bonjour ! (Hello!)
- Hi! – Salut ! (Hi!)
- Sup? – Ça va ? (How’s it going?)
- How’s it going? – Comment ça va ? (How’s it going?)
- What’s good? – Quoi de bon ? (What’s good?)
- How’s everything? – Comment vont les choses ? (How is everything?)
- What’s going on? – Qu’est-ce qui se passe ? (What’s going on?)
- G’day! – Salut ! (Hi!)
- Cheers! – Santé ! (Cheers!)
- Hi there! – Salut toi ! (Hi there!)
- Heya! – Salut ! (Hi!)
- How ya doin’? – Comment tu vas ? (How are you doing?)
- Good to see you! – Content de te voir ! (Good to see you!)
- Morning! – Bonjour ! (Good morning!)
- Evening! – Bonsoir ! (Good evening!)
- Hey hey! – Salut salut ! (Hey hey!)
- What’s cooking? – Qu’est-ce qui mijote ? (What’s cooking?)
- How’s life? – Comment va la vie ? (How’s life?)
- How’s your day? – Comment se passe ta journée ? (How’s your day?)
- Nice to see you! – Ravi de te voir ! (Nice to see you!)
- Hey man! – Salut mec ! (Hey man!)
- Hey buddy! – Salut pote ! (Hey buddy!)
- Hey girl! – Salut ma belle ! (Hey girl!)
- Alright? – Ça va ? (Alright?)
- Hey bro! – Salut frérot ! (Hey bro!)
- Greetings! – Salutations ! (Greetings!)
Formal Ways to Greet in French
Mastering formal greetings in French sets the tone for respectful and polite conversation. Whether in a business meeting or at a formal event, using the correct salutation is key to making a good impression. Here’s how to greet with elegance and propriety in French.
- Bonjour, monsieur – Good morning, sir
- Bonsoir, madame – Good evening, madam
- Bonjour, mademoiselle – Good morning, miss
- Enchanté de faire votre connaissance – Pleased to meet you
- Comment allez-vous? – How are you?
- Comment s’est passée votre journée? – How was your day?
- Je suis ravi de vous rencontrer – I am delighted to meet you
- C’est un plaisir de vous voir – It’s a pleasure to see you
- Permettez-moi de me présenter – Allow me to introduce myself
- J’espère que vous allez bien – I hope you are well
- Comment va votre famille? – How is your family?
- Quel plaisir de vous revoir! – What a pleasure to see you again!
- Je vous souhaite la bienvenue – I welcome you
- Permettez-moi de vous présenter à… – Allow me to introduce you to…
- Comment se porte votre santé? – How is your health?
- Puis-je vous aider en quelque chose? – May I help you with something?
- Je tiens à vous féliciter – I would like to congratulate you
- C’est un honneur de vous rencontrer – It is an honor to meet you
- Merci pour votre invitation – Thank you for your invitation
- Que puis-je faire pour vous aujourd’hui? – What can I do for you today?
- J’espère que tout va pour le mieux pour vous – I hope everything is going well for you
- Avez-vous passé un bon voyage? – Did you have a good trip?
- J’espère que vous avez fait bon voyage – I hope you had a good journey
- Comment puis-je vous être utile? – How can I be of service to you?
- Quelles nouvelles m’apportez-vous? – What news do you bring me?
- J’attends vos instructions – I await your instructions
- Votre présence nous honore – Your presence honors us
- Je suis à votre entière disposition – I am entirely at your disposal
- Puissiez-vous passer une agréable journée – May you have a pleasant day
- Recevez mes salutations distinguées – Receive my distinguished greetings
- Que la chance vous accompagne – May luck accompany you
- Je vous remercie de votre attention – I thank you for your attention
- Veuillez accepter mes respects – Please accept my respects
- C’est toujours un plaisir de discuter avec vous – It’s always a pleasure to talk with you
- Votre bien-être est ma priorité – Your well-being is my priority
- Je suis enchanté de cette collaboration – I am delighted with this collaboration
- Vos conseils sont toujours les bienvenus – Your advice is always welcome
- Veuillez agréer, monsieur/madame, l’expression de mes sentiments respectueux – Please accept, sir/madam, the expression of my respectful sentiments
- En vous remerciant de votre confiance – Thanking you for your trust
- Au plaisir de vous revoir bientôt – Looking forward to seeing you again soon
Conclusion
Learning to say hello in French is a critical first step if you’re diving into the language and its rich cultural backdrop. Knowing simple phrases like ‘Bonjour,’ ‘Bonsoir,’ and ‘Salut’ makes essential chats easier and shows you respect the culture.
When you greet someone properly in French, it sets a friendly and respectful tone right from the start. So, start with these basic greetings. They’re the building blocks for all your conversations in French and help you connect more deeply with French-speaking cultures.
