French Greetings Through the Ages: A Historical Journey

French greetings have a rich history that reflects the social and cultural changes in France over centuries. Understanding this evolution can provide valuable insights into French culture and language use.

Medieval Greetings

In medieval France, greetings were heavily influenced by the feudal system and religious beliefs.

• "Dieu vous garde" (May God protect you)
• "Je vous salue" (I salute you)
• "Bien le bonjour" (Good day to you)
• "Que Dieu vous bénisse" (May God bless you)
• "Ave" (Hail, from Latin)
• "Salut à vous" (Greetings to you)
• "Dieu vous donne bon jour" (May God give you a good day)
• "Je vous souhaite le bonjour" (I wish you a good day)
• "Mes hommages" (My respects)
• "Mon salut" (My greeting)

Renaissance and Enlightenment Era

The Renaissance brought new ideas and a revival of classical culture, influencing greetings.

• "Monsieur, je vous baise les mains" (Sir, I kiss your hands)
• "Madame, je suis votre serviteur" (Madam, I am your servant)
• "Enchanté" (Delighted)
• "Je vous présente mes civilités" (I present my civilities to you)
• "Agréez mes salutations" (Accept my greetings)
• "Je vous prie d'agréer l'expression de mes sentiments distingués" (Please accept the expression of my distinguished sentiments)
• "Votre très humble serviteur" (Your very humble servant)
• "J'ai l'honneur de vous saluer" (I have the honor of greeting you)
• "Veuillez recevoir mes respectueuses salutations" (Please receive my respectful greetings)
• "Je me mets à vos pieds" (I put myself at your feet)

Post-Revolution Era

The French Revolution brought significant changes to social norms and language use.

• "Citoyen" (Citizen)
• "Citoyenne" (Female citizen)
• "Salut et fraternité" (Greetings and fraternity)
• "Vive la République" (Long live the Republic)
• "Liberté, égalité, fraternité" (Liberty, equality, fraternity)
• "Au plaisir" (Until the pleasure [of seeing you again])
• "À votre santé" (To your health)
• "Je vous salue bien" (I greet you well)
• "Bien à vous" (Yours truly)
• "Cordialement" (Cordially)

20th Century to Present

Modern French greetings reflect a more casual society while retaining some formality.

• "Bonjour" (Hello/Good day)
• "Salut" (Hi)
• "Coucou" (Hey there)
• "Ça va ?" (How's it going?)
• "Comment allez-vous ?" (How are you? - formal)
• "Comment vas-tu ?" (How are you? - informal)
• "Bonsoir" (Good evening)
• "Enchanté(e)" (Nice to meet you)
• "Yo" (Yo - very informal, borrowed from English)
• "Wesh" (What's up - very informal, from Arabic)

Historical Events and Their Impact

The Norman Conquest

The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 introduced French words into English, including greeting terms.

The Hundred Years' War

This conflict (1337-1453) strengthened French national identity, influencing language use.

The Renaissance

The revival of classical learning brought new, more elaborate forms of address.

The French Revolution

This event (1789-1799) dramatically changed social structures, leading to more egalitarian forms of address.

World Wars

The world wars of the 20th century led to increased language exchange, introducing new informal greetings.

Digital Age

The internet and social media have introduced new, often abbreviated forms of greetings in French.

Practice Exercise

Match the greeting to its historical period:

1. "Salut et fraternité"
2. "Dieu vous garde"
3. "Wesh"
4. "Je vous baise les mains"
5. "Citoyen"

A. Medieval B. Renaissance C. Post-Revolution D. 20th Century to Present E. Post-Revolution

Answers and Explanations

1. C - "Salut et fraternité" was a common revolutionary greeting.
2. A - "Dieu vous garde" reflects the religious nature of medieval society.
3. D - "Wesh" is a modern, informal greeting influenced by multicultural urban culture.
4. B - "Je vous baise les mains" was a formal Renaissance-era greeting.
5. E - "Citoyen" became a standard form of address after the French Revolution.

Understanding the historical context of French greetings can enhance your appreciation of the language and culture. It also highlights how language evolves to reflect societal changes.