Basic greetings in French
French is a beautiful language spoken by millions of people around the world. If you’re planning a trip to France or simply want to impress your French-speaking friends, it’s always a good idea to know some basic French greetings. In this post, we’ll cover some of the most common French greetings that you can use in different situations.
- Bonjour (Hello)
This is the most common greeting in French and can be used at any time of the day. It’s polite and respectful to say “Bonjour” when entering a shop or restaurant, greeting a stranger, or meeting someone for the first time.
- Salut (Hi)
This is a more informal greeting, similar to “Hi” or “Hey” in English. You can use it with friends, family members, or people you know well. However, it’s not appropriate to use “Salut” in formal situations.
- Comment ça va? (How are you?)
This is a common question that you can use to start a conversation. It translates to “How’s it going?” or “How are you?” in English. The appropriate response would be “Ça va bien, merci” (I’m doing well, thank you).
- Ça va? (How’s it going?)
This is a shorter version of “Comment ça va?” and can be used with friends or people you know well. The appropriate response would be “Ça va” (It’s going well) or “Pas mal” (Not bad).
- Bonsoir (Good evening)
This greeting is used in the evening, typically after 6 pm. It’s a more formal version of “Bonjour” and can be used when greeting someone at a formal event, in a business setting, or in a more casual setting with people you don’t know well.
- Au revoir (Goodbye)
This is a common way to say “Goodbye” in French. It’s polite and respectful to say “Au revoir” when leaving a shop or restaurant, or when saying goodbye to someone after a meeting or social event.
In conclusion, these are some of the most common French greetings that you can use in different situations. By using these greetings, you’ll not only show respect for the French culture but also make a good impression on the people you meet. So, whether you’re traveling to France or just want to learn a new language, make sure to practice these basic French greetings and you’ll be well on your way to mastering the French language!
More greetings you should remember:
- Bonne journée – Have a good day
- Bonne soirée – Have a good evening
- Bonne nuit – Goodnight
- Bienvenue – Welcome
- Enchanté(e) – Nice to meet you
- Joyeux anniversaire – Happy birthday
- Félicitations – Congratulations
- Meilleurs vœux – Best wishes
- Bonne chance – Good luck
- Bon voyage – Have a good trip
- À bientôt – See you soon
- À demain – See you tomorrow
- À la prochaine – Until next time.
- Comment allez-vous ? – How are you? (formal)
- Comment vas-tu ? – How are you? (informal)
- Ravie de vous rencontrer – Nice to meet you (formal, feminine)
- Ravi de te rencontrer – Nice to meet you (informal, masculine)
- Salut tout le monde – Hi everyone
- Bon après-midi – Good afternoon
- Bonne fin de journée – Have a good end of the day.