It’s past noon, and you want to wish a friendly “good afternoon” in French to those you greet in the later part of the day. Make no mistake, the familiar bonjour (hello) is still the standard greeting of choice for almost any situation (even when it’s past 12 p.m.).
As an English speaker (or if you’ve studied how to say “hello” in other languages), you might be searching for an equivalent of “good afternoon” in the French language, like the Spanish buenas tardes. This guide will explain why you won’t use the literal translation of bon après-midi and what you’ll say instead.
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How do you say ‘good afternoon’ in French?
If you’re looking for a greeting to open your interaction with someone, the best answer is still what you said in the morning: bonjour. French speakers typically stick with bonjour until they switch to bonsoir (good evening), which is the standard greeting after 6 or 7 p.m.
So what does bon après-midi mean? You will certainly hear bon après-midi in the afternoon, but it’s used as a goodbye in French or a way to close an interaction. Bon après-midi is more equivalent to “have a good afternoon” than “good afternoon” in French. It’s a great expression to have in your repertoire as a conversation closer similar to goodbye.
- À demain, Michel ! = See you tomorrow, Michel.
- Oui, bon après-midi ! = Yes, have a nice afternoon!
Fortunately, there are a few alternatives you can use to say “good afternoon” in French when greeting someone.
| French | English | When To Use |
| Bonne journée ! | Have a great day! | Morning until noon |
| Bon après-midi !/Bonne après-midi ! | Have a good afternoon! | Noon until evening (6-7 p.m.) |
| Bonne soirée ! | Have a good evening! | Evening (after 6-7 p.m.) |
| Bonne nuit ! | Sleep well! | Only when the person is going to sleep for the night. |
Is it bon or bonne après-midi?
In writing, you may also see bonne après-midi, using the feminine form with an ending of -ne. This is an uncommon exception in French, as there aren’t many nouns like après-midi (afternoon) that use either grammatical gender. The Académie Française, the linguistic authority on such matters, recognizes après-midi as invariable, but prefers the masculine use.
In speaking, the French pronunciation of bon (good, masculine) and bonne (good, feminine) are quite different unless they are in front of a vowel like in the phrase bon/bonne après-midi, so you will not notice the difference unless you’re reading French books, emails, or texts.
Alternatives for bonjour to say ‘good afternoon’ in the French language
While bonjour will be safe no matter who you’re greeting, you may wish to expand your casual French greetings when you’re with close friends, family—or if you’re trying out some regional French dialects. These mostly overlap with other greetings such as “hello” in French, and aren’t tied to the specific time of day between noon and evening.
With slang, it’s best to be a good observer of the context around what you hear so you won’t be considered rude for using these terms at inappropriate times. Knowing the French slang you may encounter is a good supplement to knowing basic French phrases for travel.
| French | English | When To Use |
| Allô ! | Hello | To answer the phone/slang greeting that might be considered sarcastic |
| Coucou ! | Hey there! | Very casual and “cute”/when playing “peekaboo.” |
| Jourbon ! | Hello ! | Slang called verlan in which syllables are reversed |
| Quoi de neuf ? | What’s new?/What’s up? | Informal settings, similar to ça va? |
| Rebonjour ! | Hello again! | If you’ve already greeted someone that day with bonjour and you see them for a second time. |
| Salut ! | Hi!/Hey! | Casual greeting among friends. Can also mean “bye.” |
Gain cultural understanding while learning French greetings
Yes, the Académie Française is the governing body of the French language, and French speakers are taught the appropriate time on the clock to switch from bonjour to bonsoir (and there is even some disagreement there). Nevertheless, every region and generation of French will deviate from the “official rules” in French slang and more informal speech. This variation is very culturally specific, and it can be helpful to have a native speaker to explain these unwritten rules.
Trusted conversation partners can help interpret your observations. You can also bring your questions to expert teachers and tutors with Rosetta Stone’s live lessons and tutoring. Unlocking key cultural understanding not only enhances your French, but can help you avoid any unexpected reactions as you try out new phrases.
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