How to Say Hi in French

Basic Greetings

The most common ways to say "hi" in French change based on formality and time of day.

Casual Greetings

1. "Salut!" (Hi/Bye)

• Informal greeting used among friends
• Can be used for both hello and goodbye

2. "Coucou!" (Hey!)

• Very informal, playful greeting
• Often used with close friends or children

Formal Greetings

1. "Bonjour!" (Good day/Hello)

• Standard, polite greeting
• Used until evening
• Perfect for shops, restaurants, strangers

2. "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:

1. "Bon matin!" (Good morning)

• Less common but growing in use
• More specific to early morning

Afternoon

"Bonjour!" remains standard, until evening approaches

Evening

1. "Bonsoir!" (Good evening)

• Used from early evening until bedtime

2. "Bonne nuit!" (Good night)

• Only used when someone is going to bed
• Not a greeting, but a farewell

Adding Politeness

Formal Additions

1. "Bonjour Monsieur" (Hello Sir)

• Used with men
• Shows respect and formality

2. "Bonjour Madame" (Hello Ma'am)

• Used with women
• Professional and courteous

Friendly Additions

1. "Bonjour, ça va?" (Hello, how are you?)

• Common follow-up to greetings
• Expects a brief response

2. "Salut, comment vas-tu?" (Hi, how are you?)

• Informal version
• Used with friends

Regional Variations

1. Quebec: "Allô!"

• Common casual greeting
• Similar to "hello"

2. Southern France: "Adieu!"

• Used as "hi" in some regions
• Different from standard French where it means "farewell"

Common Situations

Entering Shops

1. "Bonjour!"

• Always greet when entering
• Considered very impolite to skip this

Meeting Friends

1. "Salut!"

• Followed by kisses on cheeks
• Number of kisses varies by region

Professional Settings

1. "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

1. Start simple:

• Begin with "Bonjour" - it's always appropriate

2. Match your environment:

• Formal setting = formal greeting
• Casual setting = casual greeting

3. Observe locals:

• Notice greeting patterns
• Follow their example for timing and formality