French greetings are more than a hello — they signal formality, time of day, and how well you know the person. Bonjour literally means 'good day' (bon + jour) and is the default greeting from morning until evening, to anyone, anywhere. Below is every French greeting you'll actually hear, grouped by formality and context.
The essentials
| French | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bonjour | hello / good day | Literally 'good day'. Use with anyone, anywhere, until early evening. Never optional in a French shop. |
| bonsoir | good evening | From around 6 p.m. onward. Also used as goodbye in the evening. |
| salut | hi / bye | Casual. Only with friends, family, or peers your age. Sounds rude to a stranger. |
| coucou | hi there | Very informal and warm — between close friends, family, kids. |
| allô | hello (on the phone) | Phone only. Never used face to face. |
Asking how someone is
| French | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ça va ? | how's it going? | Universal informal check-in. Answer: 'ça va' or 'ça va bien'. |
| comment ça va ? | how are you? | Slightly fuller form of ça va, still informal. |
| comment allez-vous ? | how are you? (formal) | Formal vous form — strangers, work, older people. |
| quoi de neuf ? | what's new? | Casual, between friends. |
| tu vas bien ? | you doing well? | Informal tu form, warm. |
Pleased to meet you
| French | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| enchanté(e) | pleased to meet you | Add a final 'e' in writing if you are female: enchantée. |
| ravi(e) de vous rencontrer | delighted to meet you | Formal, often work or business introductions. |
| moi de même | likewise | Response to enchanté. |
Time-of-day variants
| French | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bonne matinée | have a good morning | Said when leaving, not arriving. 'Bonjour' is for arriving. |
| bonne journée | have a good day | Default farewell after any daytime interaction. |
| bonne soirée | have a good evening | Evening equivalent of bonne journée. |
| bonne nuit | good night | Only when someone is going to sleep. |
Texting and slang
| French | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| slt | hi (text) | SMS shortening of salut. |
| cc | hey (text) | Shortening of coucou, very informal. |
| yo | yo | Borrowed from English, used by younger speakers. |
| hey | hey | Also borrowed. Friends only. |
Tips to memorize this list faster
- In any French shop, café, or office, say 'bonjour' before anything else. Skipping it is genuinely rude — much more than in English.
- Bonjour can only be said once per day to the same person. The second time, French speakers say 'rebonjour' or just smile.
- 'Bonne journée' is the close, not the open. Say bonjour when you arrive, bonne journée when you leave.
- Default to vous and 'bonjour' with anyone over ~30 or in any professional context. Wait for them to switch to tu.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common French greeting?
Bonjour is by far the most common French greeting. It means 'good day' and works with anyone, in any setting, from early morning until around 6 p.m. After that, switch to bonsoir.
How do you say hello in French informally?
Salut is the standard informal French hello — but only use it with friends, family, or peers your age. With strangers or in shops it sounds rude; stick with bonjour.
What's the difference between bonjour and bonsoir?
Bonjour is used during the day, roughly until 6 p.m. Bonsoir is used in the evening, both when arriving and when leaving. Bonne nuit is only for someone going to bed.
Is it rude not to say bonjour in France?
Yes. Walking into a French shop, bakery, or office without saying bonjour first is considered rude. Say bonjour before you ask a question, order, or start any interaction.
How do the French answer 'ça va ?'
The standard reply is 'ça va' (I'm fine) or 'ça va bien, merci' (I'm well, thanks). You can bounce it back with 'et toi ?' (informal) or 'et vous ?' (formal).
Related lists
Get the full library — 200+ passages and every list
New vocabulary lists and reading passages are added weekly. Subscribe for unlimited access and reading progress tracking.
Subscribe — $9/monthCancel anytime. 20 passages always free.