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You might know bonjour. You might even feel confident saying salut. But when a French speaker greets you quickly, casually, or with a phrase you were never taught in school, it is easy to freeze.
French greetings are not just about saying “hello” and “goodbye”. They change depending on the time of day, how well you know someone, where you are, and whether the situation is formal, friendly, or somewhere in between.
You will learn more than 30 natural French greetings and farewells, from everyday essentials like bonjour and au revoir to local-sounding phrases such as ça va ?, coucou, à plus, and bonne journée.
The Basics: How to Say Hello in French
If you only learn a few French greetings, start with these three: bonjour, salut, and allô. They are simple, common, and useful in everyday situations, but they are not interchangeable.
Bonjour
Bonjour literally means “good day”, but in real life it is the standard way to say “hello” in French. It is polite, natural, and works in almost every situation.
You can use bonjour when you walk into a shop, meet someone for the first time, speak to a teacher, greet a colleague, or say hello to a neighbour. It is formal enough for strangers, but still normal with people you know.
Examples:
- Bonjour ! – Hello!
- Bonjour, ça va ? – Hello, how are you?
- Bonjour Madame. – Hello, Madam.
- Bonjour Monsieur. – Hello, Sir.
When in doubt, use bonjour. It is the safest and most respectful choice.
Salut
Salut means “hi” or “bye”, depending on the context. It is much more casual than bonjour, so it is best used with friends, classmates, close colleagues, or people your own age in relaxed situations.
You would not normally use salut when greeting a stranger, a shop assistant, a teacher, an older person you do not know, or someone in a formal setting. In those situations, bonjour is better.
Examples:
- Salut ! – Hi!
- Salut, ça va ? – Hi, how are you?
- Salut tout le monde ! – Hi everyone!
Think of salut as friendly and informal. It is useful, but only when the relationship or situation feels relaxed enough.
Allô
Allô is used when answering the phone. It is the French equivalent of saying “hello?” when you pick up a call.
You would not usually say allô when walking into a room or greeting someone face to face. It belongs to phone conversations.
Examples:
- Allô ? – Hello?
- Allô, bonjour. – Hello, good morning/good afternoon.
- Allô, tu m’entends ? – Hello, can you hear me?
So, for everyday greetings, use bonjour. For friends, use salut. For phone calls, use allô.
Pronunciation tips for bonjour, salut, and allô (phonetic guide)
French greetings are short, but pronunciation matters. A small change in sound can make you sound much more natural.
Bonjour is pronounced roughly like bohn-zhoor.
The first part, bon, uses a nasal sound. You do not fully pronounce the “n” like you would in English. Instead, the sound comes through the nose: bohn. The second part, jour, sounds like zhoor, with a soft “zh” sound, like the “s” in measure.
Example:
Bonjour – bohn-zhoor
Meaning: Hello / good day
Salut is pronounced roughly like sa-loo.
The final t is silent, so do not say “sa-loot”. Keep it light and smooth: sa-loo.
Example:
Salut – sa-loo
Meaning: Hi / bye
Allô is pronounced roughly like ah-loh.
The accent on ô gives the final sound a rounded “oh”. It is normally used when answering the phone, so it often sounds like a questioning “hello?”
Example:
Allô ? – ah-loh?
Meaning: Hello? / Are you there?
A good rule for French greetings: avoid over-pronouncing the final letters. In salut, the t is silent. In bonjour, the nasal sound in bon should be soft, not a hard English “bon”.
Formal French Greetings (For Work, Strangers & Official Settings)
In formal situations, French greetings are usually more polite and structured than in English. Whether you are entering a shop, meeting a colleague, speaking to a receptionist, or introducing yourself in a professional setting, it is better to sound slightly too polite than too casual.
Bonjour Monsieur / Madame / Mademoiselle
The safest formal greeting in French is bonjour followed by a polite title.
- Bonjour Monsieur – Hello, Sir
- Bonjour Madame – Hello, Madam
- Bonjour Mademoiselle – Hello, Miss
You can use Bonjour Monsieur or Bonjour Madame when speaking to strangers, older people, teachers, clients, managers, shop staff, hotel staff, or anyone in a professional setting.
Examples:
- Bonjour Madame, je peux vous aider ? – Hello Madam, can I help you?
- Bonjour Monsieur, vous avez une réservation ? – Hello Sir, do you have a reservation?
- Bonjour Madame, enchanté de vous rencontrer. – Hello Madam, nice to meet you.
Mademoiselle traditionally means “Miss”, but it is used less often today in official and professional contexts. When in doubt, Madame is usually the better choice for an adult woman.
Bonsoir
Bonsoir means “good evening”. It is used when greeting someone later in the day, usually from the early evening onwards.
There is no exact universal time when French speakers switch from bonjour to bonsoir, but a useful rule is this: use bonjour during the day and bonsoir in the evening, especially after work hours or when it is getting dark.
Examples:
- Bonsoir Monsieur. – Good evening, Sir.
- Bonsoir Madame. – Good evening, Madam.
- Bonsoir, vous avez réservé ? – Good evening, have you booked?
You may hear bonjour in the late afternoon and bonsoir in the early evening. If you are unsure, bonjour is still widely understood, but bonsoir sounds more natural once the evening begins.
Enchanté / Enchantée
Enchanté means “nice to meet you” or “pleased to meet you”. It is used when you are introduced to someone for the first time.
French adjectives often change depending on the speaker. Traditionally:
- A man says Enchanté
- A woman says Enchantée
The pronunciation is the same, but the spelling changes. The extra e in enchantée is written, not usually heard.
Examples:
- Bonjour, je m’appelle Thomas. Enchanté. – Hello, my name is Thomas. Nice to meet you.
- Bonjour, je suis Claire. Enchantée. – Hello, I’m Claire. Nice to meet you.
- Enchanté de vous rencontrer. – Pleased to meet you.
In formal situations, you can make it more polite by saying Enchanté de vous rencontrer, which means “pleased to meet you”.
Bienvenue
Bienvenue means “welcome”. It is used when welcoming someone to a place, event, home, organisation, or group.
Examples:
- Bienvenue à Paris ! – Welcome to Paris!
- Bienvenue chez nous. – Welcome to our home.
- Bienvenue dans l’équipe. – Welcome to the team.
- Bienvenue à bord. – Welcome aboard.
Be careful not to use bienvenue as a normal way to say “hello”. It means “welcome”, not “hi”. You would use it when someone arrives somewhere or joins something, not simply when greeting them in the street.
For formal French, remember this simple pattern: use bonjour during the day, bonsoir in the evening, add Monsieur or Madame when appropriate, and use enchanté(e) when meeting someone for the first time.
When to use formal vs informal greetings (context guide)
Choosing between a formal and informal French greeting depends on who you are speaking to, where you are, and how well you know the person. French can be more sensitive to politeness than English, so it is important to match the greeting to the situation.
Use a formal greeting when speaking to someone you do not know well, someone older than you, a teacher, a manager, a client, a shop assistant, hotel staff, restaurant staff, or anyone in an official setting.
Formal greetings include:
- Bonjour Monsieur – Hello, Sir
- Bonjour Madame – Hello, Madam
- Bonsoir Monsieur / Madame – Good evening, Sir / Madam
- Enchanté(e) – Nice to meet you
Examples:
- Bonjour Madame, vous allez bien ? – Hello Madam, are you well?
- Bonsoir Monsieur, vous avez une réservation ? – Good evening Sir, do you have a booking?
- Enchanté de vous rencontrer. – Pleased to meet you.
Use an informal greeting with friends, close colleagues, classmates, family members, or people your own age in relaxed situations.
Informal greetings include:
- Salut – Hi / bye
- Coucou – Hey / hi there
- Ça va ? – How are you? / You alright?
- Yo – Yo / hey, very casual
Examples:
- Salut, ça va ? – Hi, how are you?
- Coucou ! – Hey!
- Ça va ? – You alright?
If you are unsure, start with bonjour. It is polite, natural, and works almost everywhere. Once the other person responds more casually, you can adjust your tone.
A simple rule: use bonjour with strangers and formal situations, salut with friends and relaxed situations, and avoid being too casual until you know the relationship allows it.
Informal & Casual French Greetings (For Friends & Family)
Once you move beyond formal French, greetings become much more relaxed. With friends, family, classmates, close colleagues, or people your own age, you will hear phrases that feel warmer, quicker, and more natural than a simple bonjour.
The important thing is context. These greetings are useful, but they are not suitable for every situation. Use them with people you know well, not with strangers, teachers, clients, or officials.
Salut
Salut is one of the most common informal French greetings. It can mean both hi and bye, depending on the moment.
Examples:
- Salut ! means Hi!
- Salut, ça va ? means Hi, how are you?
- Bon, salut ! means Right, bye!
- Salut, à demain ! means Bye, see you tomorrow!
Think of salut as friendly, casual, and easy to use with people you already know.
Coucou
Coucou is a very informal and affectionate way to say “hi” or “hello”. It is often used with close friends, family members, partners, or children.
Examples:
- Coucou ! means Hi there!
- Coucou, ça va ? means Hey, how are you?
- Coucou ma belle ! means Hey lovely!
Be careful with coucou. It can sound sweet and natural with someone close to you, but too familiar with a stranger or in a professional setting.
Quoi de neuf ?
Quoi de neuf ? means “what’s new?” or “what’s up?” It is a casual way to start a conversation after saying hello.
Examples:
- Salut, quoi de neuf ? means Hi, what’s new?
- Alors, quoi de neuf ? means So, what’s up?
- Quoi de neuf depuis la dernière fois ? means What’s new since last time?
It works well when you already know the person and want to ask what has been happening in their life.
Ça roule ?
Ça roule ? is a colloquial way to ask “how’s it going?” or “all good?” It literally means something like “is it rolling?”, but in conversation it simply means “everything okay?”
Examples:
- Salut, ça roule ? means Hi, how’s it going?
- Ouais, ça roule. means Yeah, all good.
- Ça roule pour toi ? means Is everything good with you?
This is relaxed, friendly French. You might hear it between friends, colleagues, or people who speak casually with each other.
T’as le bonjour de…
T’as le bonjour de… does not mean “hello” on its own. It is used when passing on someone else’s greeting. In English, it is close to “someone says hi”.
Examples:
- T’as le bonjour de Marie. means Marie says hi.
- Tu as le bonjour de mon frère. means My brother sends his regards.
- Dis-lui bonjour de ma part. means Say hello to him or her from me.
The informal version is t’as le bonjour de…, while the more formal version is vous avez le bonjour de….
Hey / Yo
French speakers, especially younger people, sometimes borrow English greetings like hey and yo. These are very casual and usually used in messages, online chat, or relaxed speech.
Examples:
- Hey, ça va ? means Hey, how are you?
- Yo, t’es où ? means Yo, where are you?
- Hey tout le monde ! means Hey everyone!
These are not traditional French greetings, but they are part of modern casual speech. Use them only in informal situations.
Greetings Used in Text Messages and Online Chat
French greetings are often shortened in texts, group chats, and social media messages. They are quicker, more casual, and sometimes less grammatically complete than spoken French.
Common examples include:
- Salut ! means Hi!
- Coucou ! means Hey!
- Cc means short for coucou
- Slt means short for salut
- Ça va ? means How are you?
- Cv ? means short for ça va ?
- Hey ! means Hey!
- Yo ! means Yo!
Examples:
- Cc, ça va ? means Hey, how are you?
- Slt, tu fais quoi ? means Hi, what are you doing?
- Cv ? means You okay?
- Hey, dispo ce soir ? means Hey, free tonight?
These short forms are normal in casual messaging, but avoid them in emails, formal messages, work communication, or when writing to someone you do not know well.
For informal French, the safest options are salut and ça va ?. Use coucou for warmth, quoi de neuf ? to ask what’s new, and text abbreviations only when the relationship is casual enough.
How to Say Goodbye in French
Saying goodbye in French is not just about au revoir. The phrase you choose depends on how formal the situation is, when you expect to see the person again, and whether you are leaving during the day, in the evening, or at night.
Au revoir
Au revoir is the standard way to say “goodbye” in French. It is polite, neutral, and works in almost every situation.
You can use au revoir with strangers, shop assistants, teachers, colleagues, hotel staff, restaurant staff, or people you know well.
Examples:
- Au revoir ! means Goodbye!
- Au revoir Madame. means Goodbye, Madam.
- Au revoir Monsieur. means Goodbye, Sir.
- Merci, au revoir ! means Thank you, goodbye!
When in doubt, au revoir is the safest choice.
À bientôt
À bientôt means “see you soon”. It is useful when you expect, or hope, to see someone again soon.
Examples:
- À bientôt ! means See you soon!
- Merci, à bientôt ! means Thanks, see you soon!
- À bientôt, j’espère. means See you soon, I hope.
You can use à bientôt in both friendly and polite situations, especially when leaving a shop, café, class, meeting, or social event.
À plus / À plus tard
À plus tard means “see you later”. The shorter version, à plus, is more casual and very common in everyday French.
Examples:
- À plus tard ! means See you later!
- À plus ! means Later!
- Salut, à plus ! means Bye, later!
- Bon, à plus tard. means Right, see you later.
Use à plus with friends, classmates, close colleagues, or people you speak to casually. In more formal situations, au revoir or à bientôt is usually better.
Bonne journée / Bonne soirée / Bonne nuit
These phrases are used when you want to wish someone well as you leave.
Bonne journée means “have a good day”. Use it during the day.
Examples:
- Bonne journée ! means Have a good day!
- Merci, bonne journée. means Thanks, have a good day.
Bonne soirée means “have a good evening”. Use it in the evening when someone is going to continue their evening elsewhere.
Examples:
- Bonne soirée ! means Have a good evening!
- Merci, bonne soirée à vous aussi. means Thanks, have a good evening too.
Bonne nuit means “good night”. Use it when someone is going to bed or when the night is ending.
Examples:
- Bonne nuit ! means Good night!
- Dors bien, bonne nuit. means Sleep well, good night.
A common mistake is using bonne nuit too early in the evening. If someone is leaving a restaurant at 7pm or heading out for the evening, say bonne soirée, not bonne nuit. Use bonne nuit when someone is actually going to sleep.
Ciao
Ciao comes from Italian, but it is widely used in France in casual situations. It means “bye” and sounds relaxed, friendly, and informal.
Examples:
- Ciao ! means Bye!
- Allez, ciao ! means Right, bye!
- Ciao, à demain ! means Bye, see you tomorrow!
Use ciao with friends, peers, or people you know well. Avoid it in formal settings unless the other person uses it first.
Salut
Just like salut can mean “hi”, it can also mean “bye”. The meaning depends on the situation.
Examples:
- Salut ! means Hi!
- Bon, salut ! means Right, bye!
- Salut, à demain ! means Bye, see you tomorrow!
- Salut, à plus ! means Bye, later!
Use salut as a goodbye with friends, family, classmates, and close colleagues. For strangers or formal situations, use au revoir instead.
For most situations, remember this simple guide: use au revoir as your standard goodbye, à bientôt when you expect to see someone again, à plus with friends, bonne journée during the day, bonne soirée in the evening, and bonne nuit only when someone is going to bed.
Time-Based French Greetings
French greetings often change depending on the time of day. In English, you might say “hello” at almost any time, but in French, it is useful to know when to use bonjour, bonsoir, and bonne nuit.
| French phrase | Meaning | When to use it | Example |
| Bonjour | Hello / good day | During the day, from morning to late afternoon | Bonjour, ça va ? means Hello, how are you? |
| Bonsoir | Good evening | In the evening, especially after work hours or when it starts to feel like evening | Bonsoir Madame. means Good evening, Madam. |
| Bonne nuit | Good night | When someone is going to bed or the night is ending | Bonne nuit, dors bien. means Good night, sleep well. |
Bonjour
Bonjour is the standard greeting during the day. You can use it in the morning, at lunchtime, and throughout the afternoon.
Examples:
- Bonjour ! means Hello!
- Bonjour Monsieur. means Hello, Sir.
- Bonjour, vous allez bien ? means Hello, are you well?
It is polite, safe, and suitable for both formal and informal situations.
Bonsoir
Bonsoir means “good evening”. Use it when greeting someone later in the day, especially once the working day is ending or the evening has begun.
Examples:
- Bonsoir ! means Good evening!
- Bonsoir, vous avez réservé ? means Good evening, have you booked?
- Bonsoir tout le monde. means Good evening everyone.
Unlike bonne soirée, which is used when saying goodbye, bonsoir is usually used when greeting someone in the evening.
Bonne nuit
Bonne nuit means “good night”, but it is not a normal evening greeting. Use it when someone is going to sleep or when you are saying goodbye at the very end of the night.
Examples:
- Bonne nuit ! means Good night!
- Bonne nuit, à demain. means Good night, see you tomorrow.
- Dors bien, bonne nuit. means Sleep well, good night.
A common mistake is using bonne nuit too early. If someone is leaving at 7pm or going out for dinner, say bonne soirée, not bonne nuit.
What About Bon Matin?
Bon matin literally means “good morning”, but it is rarely used by native speakers in France. In most everyday situations, French speakers simply say bonjour in the morning.
So instead of saying:
Bon matin !
Say:
Bonjour !
In some French-speaking regions, especially in Canada, you may hear bon matin more often. But if you are learning standard French for France, bonjour is the natural choice.
The Bonsoir Cutover: When Do French People Switch From Bonjour?
There is no exact official time when French speakers switch from bonjour to bonsoir. It depends on the person, the season, the setting, and the atmosphere.
As a general guide, bonjour is used during the day, while bonsoir starts to feel natural in the early evening, often around 5pm or 6pm. In winter, people may switch earlier because it gets dark sooner. In summer, bonjour may still sound normal later in the afternoon.
A simple rule:
Use bonjour until the day starts to feel like evening. Use bonsoir once you are clearly in evening mode.
Examples:
- At 10am: Bonjour
- At 2pm: Bonjour
- At 5pm: Bonjour or Bonsoir, depending on the setting
- At 7pm: Bonsoir
- Before bed: Bonne nuit
If you are unsure, bonjour is usually still acceptable in the late afternoon. But once you are entering a restaurant, hotel, event, or evening gathering, bonsoir will often sound more natural.
French Greetings With a Question (How Are You?)
Many French greetings are followed by a quick “how are you?” question. This is where French can feel very different from textbook learning, because phrases like ça va ? are often used quickly, casually, and sometimes without expecting a detailed answer.
Comment allez-vous ?
Comment allez-vous ? means “how are you?” It is the formal version, so use it with strangers, older people, teachers, clients, managers, or anyone in a polite setting.
Examples:
- Bonjour Madame, comment allez-vous ? means Hello Madam, how are you?
- Bonjour Monsieur, comment allez-vous ? means Hello Sir, how are you?
- Enchanté de vous rencontrer. Comment allez-vous ? means Nice to meet you. How are you?
A simple reply is:
Je vais bien, merci. Et vous ?
This means “I’m well, thank you. And you?”
Comment ça va ? / Ça va ?
Comment ça va ? means “how’s it going?” or “how are you?” It is more relaxed than comment allez-vous ?, but still very common.
The shorter version, ça va ?, is even more casual and is used all the time between friends, classmates, family members, and close colleagues.
Examples:
- Salut, comment ça va ? means Hi, how are you?
- Salut, ça va ? means Hi, you okay?
- Coucou, ça va ? means Hey, how are you?
You can answer with:
- Ça va. means I’m okay / it’s going fine.
- Ça va bien. means I’m good.
- Ça va très bien. means I’m very well.
- Pas mal. means Not bad.
- Bof. means So-so.
Ça va bien, merci
Ça va bien, merci is a standard and polite reply to ça va ? or comment ça va ?. It means “I’m well, thank you.”
Examples:
- Ça va bien, merci. means I’m well, thank you.
- Oui, ça va bien, merci. means Yes, I’m well, thank you.
- Ça va bien, merci. Et toi ? means I’m well, thank you. And you?
- Ça va bien, merci. Et vous ? means I’m well, thank you. And you?
This is a safe answer if you want to sound polite and natural.
Et vous / Et toi ?
Et vous ? and et toi ? both mean “and you?”, but they are used in different situations.
Use et vous ? in formal or polite situations. Use it with strangers, older people, teachers, managers, clients, or anyone you would address with vous.
Example:
Je vais bien, merci. Et vous ?
This means “I’m well, thank you. And you?”
Use et toi ? in informal situations. Use it with friends, family, classmates, close colleagues, or anyone you would address with tu.
Example:
Ça va bien, merci. Et toi ?
This means “I’m good, thanks. And you?”
A simple rule: vous is formal or plural, while toi is informal and singular.
What “Ça Va” Really Means in Practice
In textbooks, ça va ? is often translated as “how are you?” But in real French, it can mean several things depending on tone, context, and body language.
It can mean:
- How are you?
- Are you okay?
- Everything alright?
- Is it going well?
- You good?
It is also used as both the question and the answer.
Example:
Ça va ?
Ça va.
This can sound strange in English because it literally looks like:
“How’s it going?”
“It’s going.”
But in French, this is completely normal. The first ça va ? is the question. The second ça va is the answer.
In casual speech, French speakers may say it very quickly:
Salut, ça va ?
Oui, ça va, et toi ?
This means:
“Hi, you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good, and you?”
Most of the time, ça va ? is not an invitation to give a long personal update. It is often a quick, friendly check-in. If you are speaking to someone casually, a short answer like ça va, merci or oui, ça va is usually enough.
The Cultural Side of French Greetings
French greetings are not only about words. Body language, politeness, and small social habits matter too. In France, how you greet someone can shape the tone of the whole conversation, especially if you are speaking to someone for the first time.
La Bise
La bise is the French cheek-kiss greeting. It is usually done by lightly touching cheeks and making a small kissing sound in the air. It is common between friends, family members, and sometimes colleagues, depending on the relationship and the setting.
The number of kisses can vary by region, family, age group, and social circle. In many places, two kisses are common, but you may also see one, three, or even four in some regions. This is one reason la bise can feel confusing for learners and visitors.
The safest approach is simple: do not rush in first. Let the French person lead. If they lean in for la bise, follow their rhythm. If they offer a handshake instead, shake hands.
Examples of when la bise may be appropriate:
- Greeting close friends
- Seeing family members
- Meeting friends of friends in a casual setting
- Saying hello or goodbye at a relaxed social event
Avoid la bise in very formal settings, with strangers, or in professional situations unless the other person clearly initiates it.
The Handshake in Professional Settings
In work, business, and formal situations, a handshake is much safer than la bise. French handshakes are often brief, polite, and not too forceful.
You might shake hands when meeting a client, attending a meeting, greeting a manager, introducing yourself to a colleague, or meeting someone in an official setting.
Useful phrases include:
- Bonjour, enchanté. means Hello, nice to meet you.
- Bonjour, enchantée. means Hello, nice to meet you.
- Ravi de vous rencontrer. means Pleased to meet you.
- Bonjour Monsieur. means Hello, Sir.
- Bonjour Madame. means Hello, Madam.
In professional French, it is usually better to be slightly too formal at first. You can become more relaxed once the other person sets the tone.
Always Greet Shopkeepers When Entering a Shop
One of the most important cultural rules in France is to greet people when you enter a small shop, bakery, café, restaurant, waiting room, or reception area.
In English-speaking countries, you might walk into a shop and start browsing without saying anything. In France, this can seem rude. A simple bonjour makes the interaction much more polite.
Use:
- Bonjour. means Hello.
- Bonjour Madame. means Hello, Madam.
- Bonjour Monsieur. means Hello, Sir.
- Bonsoir. means Good evening.
When you leave, it is also polite to say:
- Merci, au revoir. means Thank you, goodbye.
- Bonne journée. means Have a good day.
- Bonne soirée. means Have a good evening.
This small habit can make a big difference. Even if your French is limited, greeting people properly shows respect.
Common Mistakes Tourists Make With French Greetings
One common mistake is using salut with everyone. Salut is friendly, but it is too casual for strangers, shopkeepers, hotel staff, or older people you do not know. Use bonjour instead.
Another mistake is not greeting people at all. In France, starting with a request before saying bonjour can sound abrupt. Instead of saying Un café, s’il vous plaît, say Bonjour, un café, s’il vous plaît.
Tourists also sometimes use bonne nuit too early in the evening. Remember, bonne nuit is for bedtime. If someone is leaving in the evening, say bonne soirée instead.
Another mistake is using tu too quickly. In formal situations, vous is safer. Wait until the other person uses tu or invites you to be more informal.
Finally, many visitors feel awkward about la bise. That is normal. The best rule is to pause, smile, and let the other person lead. If in doubt, a polite bonjour and a handshake will usually be fine.
Regional and French-Speaking World Variations
French is spoken across many countries, and greetings can change depending on where you are. The core phrases, such as bonjour, bonsoir, salut, and au revoir, are widely understood, but local habits, accents, and levels of formality can vary.
Quebec French
In Quebec, greetings can feel a little different from the French you might hear in France. Bonjour and bonsoir are still common, but you may also hear allô used more broadly in everyday speech, not only on the phone.
In shops and cafés, especially in bilingual areas, you may hear Bonjour-Hi. This is a practical greeting used when the speaker does not know whether the customer prefers French or English.
Examples:
- Bonjour ! means Hello!
- Allô ! means Hello!
- Bonsoir ! means Good evening!
- Bonjour-Hi ! means Hello, in French and English
If you are in Quebec and want to be polite, starting with bonjour is always a good choice.
Belgian French
Belgian French is very close to the French spoken in France, so greetings like bonjour, bonsoir, salut, and au revoir all work normally.
The difference is often more about tone and register than completely different words. Belgian speakers may sound slightly softer or more direct depending on the region and context, but the same basic politeness rules apply.
Examples:
- Bonjour, vous allez bien ? means Hello, are you well?
- Salut, ça va ? means Hi, how are you?
- Bonsoir, à demain. means Good evening, see you tomorrow.
As in France, use bonjour with strangers and salut with people you know well.
Swiss French
Swiss French is also very similar to standard French when it comes to greetings. You can use bonjour, bonsoir, salut, au revoir, and bonne journée in the same way.
The main differences are usually pronunciation, rhythm, and some local vocabulary rather than the greetings themselves.
Examples:
- Bonjour Madame. means Hello, Madam.
- Salut, ça va ? means Hi, how are you?
- Bonne journée ! means Have a good day!
If you are visiting French-speaking Switzerland, polite standard French will be understood and appreciated.
African Francophone Countries
French is spoken across many African countries, including Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin, Mali, Niger, and others. In many places, French sits alongside local languages, so greetings may combine French with local cultural habits.
You may hear standard French greetings such as:
- Bonjour means Hello
- Bonsoir means Good evening
- Salut means Hi
- Comment ça va ? means How are you?
- Ça va bien ? means Are you well?
- Bonne journée means Have a good day
In some countries, greetings may be longer and more socially important than in France. People may ask about your health, your family, your work, or your day before moving into the main conversation.
For example:
Bonjour, ça va ? Et la famille ?
This means “Hello, how are you? And the family?”
This does not mean every conversation will be long, but it shows how greetings can be more relationship-focused in some Francophone cultures.
The Best Rule for Learners
Wherever you are in the French-speaking world, bonjour is the safest starting point. It is polite, widely understood, and works in most situations.
Once you spend more time in a particular country or region, listen to how local people greet each other. That will help you adjust naturally without sounding too formal, too casual, or too textbook.
Quick-Reference Table of French Greetings
Use this table as a quick guide when choosing the right French greeting. Some phrases are safe in almost any situation, while others are best saved for friends, messages, or specific times of day.
| French phrase | Pronunciation | English meaning | Context | Time of day |
| Bonjour | bohn-zhoor | Hello / good day | Formal and informal | Morning to late afternoon |
| Bonjour Monsieur | bohn-zhoor muh-syuh | Hello, Sir | Formal | Morning to late afternoon |
| Bonjour Madame | bohn-zhoor mah-dam | Hello, Madam | Formal | Morning to late afternoon |
| Salut | sa-loo | Hi / bye | Informal | Any time |
| Coucou | koo-koo | Hey / hi there | Very informal | Any time |
| Allô | ah-loh | Hello? | Phone calls | Any time |
| Bonsoir | bohn-swahr | Good evening | Formal and informal | Evening |
| Bonne nuit | bun nwee | Good night | Informal or close settings | Bedtime / end of night |
| Comment allez-vous ? | koh-mahn tah-lay voo | How are you? | Formal | Any time |
| Comment ça va ? | koh-mahn sah vah | How’s it going? | Informal or neutral | Any time |
| Ça va ? | sah vah | You okay? / how are you? | Informal | Any time |
| Quoi de neuf ? | kwah duh neuf | What’s new? | Informal | Any time |
| Ça roule ? | sah rool | All good? / how’s it going? | Informal | Any time |
| Enchanté(e) | ahn-shahn-tay | Nice to meet you | Formal and informal | First meeting |
| Bienvenue | byan-vuh-noo | Welcome | Formal and informal | When someone arrives |
| Au revoir | oh ruh-vwahr | Goodbye | Formal and informal | Any time |
| À bientôt | ah byan-toh | See you soon | Formal and informal | Any time |
| À plus tard | ah ploos tar | See you later | Informal or neutral | Any time |
| À plus | ah ploos | Later | Informal | Any time |
| Bonne journée | bun zhoor-nay | Have a good day | Formal and informal | Daytime |
| Bonne soirée | bun swah-ray | Have a good evening | Formal and informal | Evening |
| Ciao | chow | Bye | Informal | Any time |
| Hey | hey | Hey | Very informal | Any time |
| Yo | yo | Yo / hey | Very informal | Any time |
For most learners, the most useful phrases are bonjour, salut, bonsoir, au revoir, à bientôt, bonne journée, and ça va ?. These cover the majority of everyday greetings and goodbyes in French.
French Greetings FAQ
What is the most common French greeting?
The most common French greeting is bonjour. It means “hello” or “good day” and works in almost every situation, from speaking to a friend to entering a shop or meeting someone formally.
If you only remember one French greeting, make it bonjour.
Is bonjour formal or informal?
Bonjour can be both formal and informal. That is why it is such a useful greeting.
You can say bonjour to a stranger, teacher, colleague, shopkeeper, neighbour, friend, or family member. In formal situations, you can make it more polite by adding Monsieur or Madame.
Examples:
- Bonjour Monsieur. means Hello, Sir.
- Bonjour Madame. means Hello, Madam.
- Bonjour, ça va ? means Hello, how are you?
How do you respond to bonjour?
The simplest response to bonjour is bonjour. If it is evening, you can respond with bonsoir instead.
Examples:
- Bonjour !
Bonjour ! - Bonsoir !
Bonsoir !
If the person adds a question, you can answer politely:
Bonjour, ça va ?
Ça va bien, merci. Et vous ?
This means:
“Hello, how are you?”
“I’m well, thank you. And you?”
What does salut mean in French?
Salut means both “hi” and “bye” in French. It is casual, so use it with friends, family, classmates, close colleagues, or people you know well.
Examples:
- Salut ! means Hi!
- Salut, ça va ? means Hi, how are you?
- Bon, salut ! means Right, bye!
- Salut, à demain ! means Bye, see you tomorrow!
Avoid using salut with strangers, shopkeepers, teachers, clients, or in formal situations. Use bonjour or au revoir instead.
How do you say hello in French on the phone?
To say hello on the phone in French, use allô. It is the French equivalent of saying “hello?” when answering a call.
Examples:
- Allô ? means Hello?
- Allô, bonjour. means Hello, good morning or good afternoon.
- Allô, tu m’entends ? means Hello, can you hear me?
Use allô for phone calls, not for greeting someone face to face. In person, use bonjour, salut, or bonsoir, depending on the situation.
