French · Greetings & Essentials
"Good morning" in French: bonjour
bonjour
Good morning in French is usually bonjour. French does not lean on a separate everyday phrase just for mornings the way English does. Bonne matinée can wish someone a nice morning as you leave.
Entering an office
Bonjour à tout le monde, bonne journée de réunion.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce bonjour
Say it
bohn-ZHOOR
/bɔ̃.ʒuʁ/
Bonjour is bohn-ZHOOR. Nasal on in bon, soft j like measure, light French r at the end. Same pronunciation as the general hello.
"Good morning" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| bonjour | good morning / hello Default from morning into the afternoon. | Default from morning into the afternoon. |
| bonne matinée | have a nice morning A wish when parting in the morning. | A wish when parting in the morning. |
| bonjour madame / monsieur | good morning (polite) With shop staff and strangers. | With shop staff and strangers. |
| salut | hi Casual morning hello among friends. | Casual morning hello among friends. |
How to use bonjour in real life
- 1Entering an office
Bonjour à tout le monde, bonne journée de réunion.
Good morning everyone, have a good day of meetings.
Bonjour still covers the morning greeting to a group.
- 2Bakery at 8 a.m.
Bonjour, un croissant et un café, s'il vous plaît.
Good morning, a croissant and a coffee, please.
Greet first, then order.
- 3Leaving a neighbor early
Bonjour ! Bonne matinée, à tout à l'heure.
Good morning! Have a nice morning, see you later.
Bonne matinée is the parting wish; bonjour is the hello.
Mistakes English speakers make with bonjour
Incorrect: Bon matin !
Correct: Bonjour !
Bon matin is not natural French. Use bonjour in the morning.
Incorrect: Bonne matinée, madame (when arriving).
Correct: Bonjour, madame.
Bonne matinée is for leaving. When you arrive, say bonjour.
Good to know
English speakers look for a dedicated "good morning"; French mostly uses bonjour until evening switches to bonsoir. Skipping bonjour in a shop still feels abrupt, even at 7 a.m.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Meeting a colleague at the office kitchen
ChatPal
Bonjour ! Tu as bien dormi ?
Good morning! Did you sleep well?
You
Bonjour ! Oui, merci. Il reste du café ?
Good morning! Yes, thanks. Is there coffee left?
ChatPal
Oui, j'en ai fait un plein pot.
Yes, I made a full pot.
You
Génial. Bonne matinée alors !
Awesome. Have a nice morning then!
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Good morning" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Good morning" in French
How do you say good morning in French?
Bonjour. There is no everyday phrase that only means good morning the way English uses it.
What about bonne matinée?
It means have a nice morning and fits when you are leaving, not when you arrive.
When do I switch to bonsoir?
In the evening, roughly after work hours or when it gets dark. Until then, bonjour is safe.
Can I say salut in the morning?
Yes, with friends. With strangers and shop staff, prefer bonjour.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- Ordering Food in French: Essential Phrases for 2026Ordering food in french - Learn how to confidently order food in French with real-life phrases and tips for 2026 travelers
- 10 Best French Speaking Practice Apps for 2026Find the best French speaking practice app to build fluency. We review 10 top tools like ChatPal for conversation, travel prep, and building confidence in 2026.
