French · Greetings & Essentials
"Hello" in French: bonjour
bonjour
Note: informal: salut
Hello in French is bonjour (bohn-ZHOOR). It works with everyone, from shop staff to your neighbor, all through the day. With friends you can say salut, and in the evening most people switch to bonsoir.
Walking into a bakery
Bonjour madame, une baguette, s'il vous plaît.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce bonjour
Say it
bohn-ZHOOR
/bɔ̃.ʒuʁ/
The on in bonjour is a nasal vowel: say "bohn" through your nose and don't pronounce the n. The j is soft, like the s in "measure". End with a light French r from the back of the throat.
"Hello" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| bonjour | hello, good morning The safe greeting for anyone, from morning to early evening. | The safe greeting for anyone, from morning to early evening. |
| salut | hi Casual, for friends and people you call tu. It also means "bye". | Casual, for friends and people you call tu. It also means "bye". |
| bonsoir | good evening Replaces bonjour in the evening, both when you arrive and when you leave. | Replaces bonjour in the evening, both when you arrive and when you leave. |
| bonjour madame / bonjour monsieur | hello (to a woman / to a man) Extra polite, with shop staff, older people, and strangers. | Extra polite, with shop staff, older people, and strangers. |
| coucou | hey there Very informal and warm, for close friends, family, children, and text messages. | Very informal and warm, for close friends, family, children, and text messages. |
How to use bonjour in real life
- 1Walking into a bakery
Bonjour madame, une baguette, s'il vous plaît.
Hello, a baguette, please.
Always greet first, then ask. Adding madame or monsieur makes it warmer.
- 2Starting a work meeting
Bonjour à tous, merci d'être là ce matin.
Hello everyone, thanks for being here this morning.
Bonjour à tous is the standard way to greet a whole group.
- 3Texting a friend
Bonjour ! Tu es libre ce soir ?
Hello! Are you free tonight?
Bonjour still works with friends, especially earlier in the day.
Mistakes English speakers make with bonjour
Incorrect: Une baguette, s'il vous plaît.
Correct: Bonjour, une baguette, s'il vous plaît.
In France you say bonjour before any request. Going straight to what you want sounds abrupt, even with s'il vous plaît.
Incorrect: Salut, monsieur !
Correct: Bonjour, monsieur !
Salut is casual, so it doesn't fit with monsieur or madame. Keep it for friends and people your age.
Good to know
Saying bonjour when you enter a small shop, a bakery, or a doctor's waiting room is expected in France, and people notice when it's missing. If you see the same person again later that day, don't greet them with bonjour a second time. A smile is enough, or a playful rebonjour among colleagues.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Meeting a new neighbor in Bordeaux
ChatPal
Bonjour ! Vous venez d'arriver dans l'immeuble ?
Hello! Have you just moved into the building?
You
Bonjour ! Oui, je m'appelle Sam, j'habite au troisième.
Hello! Yes, my name is Sam, I live on the third floor.
ChatPal
Moi, c'est Claire. Bienvenue ! Si vous avez besoin de quelque chose, n'hésitez pas.
I'm Claire. Welcome! If you need anything, just ask.
You
Merci, c'est très gentil. Bonne journée !
Thanks, that's very kind. Have a nice day!
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Hello" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Hello" in French
What is the difference between bonjour and salut?
Bonjour is neutral and works with everyone. Salut is informal, like "hi", and fits with friends, family, and people you call tu. When in doubt, say bonjour.
When should I switch from bonjour to bonsoir?
There is no fixed time. Most people start saying bonsoir in the evening, roughly from 6 p.m. or when it gets dark. Bonne nuit (good night) is only for bedtime.
How do you pronounce bonjour correctly?
Say bohn-ZHOOR. The n in bon is not pronounced; it just makes the vowel nasal. The j sounds like the s in "measure", not like the j in "jump".
Do French people kiss when they say hello?
Friends and family often greet each other with la bise, a light kiss on each cheek. The number of kisses depends on the region. In shops and with strangers a simple bonjour is enough, and at work people often shake hands.
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
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