How to Say Hi in French
Updated on 2024-11-24
Basic Greetings
The most common ways to say "hi" in French change based on formality and time of day.
Casual Greetings
- "Salut!" (Hi/Bye)
- Informal greeting used among friends
- Can be used for both hello and goodbye
- "Coucou!" (Hey!)
- Very informal, playful greeting
- Often used with close friends or children
Formal Greetings
- "Bonjour!" (Good day/Hello)
- Standard, polite greeting
- Used until evening
- Perfect for shops, restaurants, strangers
- "Bonsoir!" (Good evening)
- Used after about 6 PM
- Appropriate in all evening situations
Time-Specific Greetings
Morning
"Bonjour!" works all morning, but you can also say:
- "Bon matin!" (Good morning)
- Less common but growing in use
- More specific to early morning
Afternoon
"Bonjour!" remains standard, until evening approaches
Evening
- "Bonsoir!" (Good evening)
- Used from early evening until bedtime
- "Bonne nuit!" (Good night)
- Only used when someone is going to bed
- Not a greeting, but a farewell
Adding Politeness
Formal Additions
- "Bonjour Monsieur" (Hello Sir)
- Used with men
- Shows respect and formality
- "Bonjour Madame" (Hello Ma'am)
- Used with women
- Professional and courteous
Friendly Additions
- "Bonjour, ça va?" (Hello, how are you?)
- Common follow-up to greetings
- Expects a brief response
- "Salut, comment vas-tu?" (Hi, how are you?)
- Informal version
- Used with friends
Regional Variations
- Quebec: "Allô!"
- Common casual greeting
- Similar to "hello"
- Southern France: "Adieu!"
- Used as "hi" in some regions
- Different from standard French where it means "farewell"
Common Situations
Entering Shops
- "Bonjour!"
- Always greet when entering
- Considered very impolite to skip this
Meeting Friends
- "Salut!"
- Followed by kisses on cheeks
- Number of kisses varies by region
Professional Settings
- "Bonjour Madame/Monsieur"
- Standard office greeting
- Add person's title if known
Cultural Notes
- Always greet before starting any interaction
- Greeting is more important in French culture than in many others
- Skip greeting someone = considered very rude
- Different regions have different cheek-kissing customs
Tips for Practice
- Start simple:
- Begin with "Bonjour" - it's always appropriate
- Match your environment:
- Formal setting = formal greeting
- Casual setting = casual greeting
- Observe locals:
- Notice greeting patterns
- Follow their example for timing and formality