If you know one single word in French, it might be bonjour (hello). That’s a great start to knowing how to say “hello” in French, but do you know when to use it and when it wouldn’t be appropriate? One of the first steps when you learn French is getting to know greetings and how to use them. Take a look at some common ways to say “hello” in French, and you’ll be starting conversations in no time!
Table of Contents
Formal ways to say “hello” in French
French speakers have a strong concept of formal vs. informal speech. When learning basic French phrases, such as how to say “hello” in French, knowing when to use which greeting will help you present yourself with the best manners.
It’s a good idea to start with a formal register, which is a more respectful speech used in non-personal communication. Begin with formal ways to say “hello” in French, and once you get to know someone well, you can switch to casual / informal speech or even slang!
Bonjour (hello)
This most important greeting can be used with anyone in almost any circumstance. It is made of the words bon (good) and jour (day) and is easily the most common greeting in the French language. There are two situations in which you should not use bonjour!: when it’s evening and when you’re greeting a person you’ve already greeted that day.
Bonsoir (hello, good evening)
But, avoid bonjour if it is evening. Starting at around 6 PM, French speakers will naturally shift to bonsoir (hello, good evening) for their greeting. If you’re not aware of the time, stick with bonjour until you start to hear others use bonsoir.
Rebonjour (hello again)
The first time you greet someone during the day is considered your only bonjour. A second bonjour could be considered a bit rude or absent-minded, as though you’ve forgotten that you greeted the person earlier in the day. You could switch to another greeting, such as rebonjour (hello again). Knowing these cultural tidbits will help you speak French with confidence.
Formal French greeting pronunciations
| French Greeting | Pronunciation |
| bonjour | boh(n)-zjhoo(r) |
| bonsoir | boh(n)-swah(r) |
| rebonjour | ruh-boh(n)-zjhoo(r) |
The “n” is part of a nasal vowel and almost silent in bonjour. The “r” at the end is slightly pronounced at the back of the throat, but in the French way, not the rhotic “r” of American English.
Casual ways to say “hello” in French
Once you know some French speakers well, you may want to learn how to say “hello” in French in a more relaxed tone. Among friends, classmates, colleagues, family, or well-acquainted neighbors, you may find that people use more casual greetings with each other. It is a good idea to listen to others and take your lead from what you hear.
Salut (hi)
Salut (hi, hey) can mean both a casual “hi” and a quick “bye!” You will hear this greeting in many French-speaking countries but generally in less formal settings. If you’re interacting with an employee of a store or restaurant, stick with the formal bonjour, but if you’re meeting someone for lunch with whom you’re on a first-name basis, you’re good to go with salut ! It is one of the easiest and friendliest ways to say “hello” in French.
Allô (hello)
This greeting will depend on where you are in the francophone world. In French-speaking Canada, you may hear this casual greeting in similar situations as salut. It might also be pronounced like “hello” but with a silent “h.”
In France, you’ll hear this greeting when someone answers the phone. You can respond with another allô, bonjour, or bonsoir. To say who is speaking, use c’est (It’s) and then your name. This is assuming you aren’t exchanging phone calls with one of your close contacts, when other casual greetings may apply!
Coucou ! (hi there!)
It’s one of the cutest ways to say “hello” in French, but this greeting is used only in specific, very friendly situations. You wouldn’t use this in the workplace, with strangers, or with servers or store employees. It could be a very friendly greeting among close friends and family or with small children or pets.
Coucou is also used in the baby game “peekaboo” at the moment that you reveal your face.
You can use faire un petit coucou (to say a quick hello) when you just want to stop by and say “hi” to someone but when a long visit wouldn’t be expected. It’s one of many French idioms that could help you wow native speakers!
- Eh, salut ! Je suis passé pour faire un petit coucou ! Ça va ? = Hey, hi! I just came by to say a quick hello! How are you?
Casual French greeting pronunciations
The “t” is silent at the end of salut. The “u” vowel is a very French-sounding vowel that is unfamiliar to English speakers. Learn to pronounce it like a native speaker with Rosetta Stone’s TruAccent speech recognition engine.
| French | Pronunciation |
| salut | sah-leu |
| allô | ah-loh |
| coucou | coo-coo |
Slang ways to say “hello” in French
When the informal register just isn’t casual enough, slang enters the chat. Slang has regional, generational, and cultural properties, so it will vary greatly depending on who you are talking to! Adding some slang to your speech can be a fun way to express yourself with a language partner that you know well and trust. Chatting with Rosetta Stone’s tutors is a perfect way to try out some new expressions like these!
| French | English |
| Quoi de neuf ? | What’s new? |
| Jourbon ! | Slang version of bonjour (hello) |
| Hey ! | English, but commonly used in slang French |
| Wesh | Informal greeting similar to “yo” or “whassup?” |
Other ways to say “hello” in French
We’ve just scratched the surface of all the ways to say “hello” and “How are you?” in French. Here are a few more you’ll hear and want to use in conversation!
Bienvenue ! (welcome)
Bienvenue means “welcome.” It is a way to greet guests, and you may see it on signs upon entering an airport or city.
Bienvenue is also used in Canada as a response to merci (thank you). It is considered a calque, or a loan-translation of the English expression.
In Standard French:
- Merci ! = Thanks!
- De rien. / Il n’y a pas de quoi. = You’re welcome. / It was nothing.
In Canadian French:
- Merci. = Thank you.
- Bienvenue ! = You’re welcome!
Bon Matin (good morning)
This expression is not very common but will be heard in Canada, as another calque of “Good morning.” Learn more Canadian French expressions if Canada is your destination!
| French | Pronunciation |
| Bienvenue ! | bee-eh(n) vuh-noo. |
| Merci ! | mai(r)-see |
| De rien ! | deuh- ree-eh(n) |
| Bon Matin ! | boh(n) mah-teh(n) |
What is the difference between bonjour and bonne journée?
Since jour means “day,” and journée also translates to “day / daytime,” this is understandably confusing, but there’s an easy distinction. Say bonjour when you see someone for the first time (but only that once!), and say bonne journée ! to mean “Have a nice day!” when you are leaving or saying goodbye.
The same distinction applies to bonsoir (seeing someone for the first time in the evening) and bonne soirée (have a nice evening).
Bonne nuit ! can be used to say “goodnight” when you’re going to sleep.
Don’t say mon ami !
Once you know some essential French phrases, you may want to say “Hello my friend” in French as well. It is a common stereotype for English speakers to add mon ami (my friend) to these greetings. This phrase is given to French-speaking characters in popular movies and musicals and is often employed alongside a heavy French accent. It is not, however, a common greeting in the real world.
Mon ami (my friend; masculine) and mon amie (my friend; feminine) translates to “my friend” but could actually mean something more personal or affectionate. Especially avoid using this phrase with strangers or acquaintances.
Learn to say “hello” in French with Rosetta Stone
Saying “hello” and other greetings in French is an important first step in learning to speak your new language. With a little knowledge, you can choose the right greeting for the time of day, and whether you’re saying “hello” or “goodbye” in French.
Knowing the difference between formal language, informal / casual speech, and slang helps you communicate appropriately in each situation. Using Rosetta Stone’s expert resources can help you pronounce all these phrases accurately and be understood well. Take the next step to communicate with confidence!
0 Commentaires