How to say Hello in French

What is the correct way to say hello in French? Here’s how to select the appropriate French greetings!

How to say hello in French?

What is the correct way to say hello in French? This is one of the most vital skills for communicating with natives. Here’s how to select the appropriate French greetings!

Why learn French greetings

Whether you’re a novice or an accomplished speaker, it’s always a good idea to go over the facts and see if there’s anything further you can learn. The fundamentals are always vital, and any French you encounter will be delighted that you made an effort to learn more about their language and culture.

You will be able to maintain the discussion and create many new pals. Frenchs are incredibly polite, and they want others to be so as well.

It’s essential to know the phrases for good morning and good afternoon in French. Given their kindness, it would be beneficial for any outsider to know what to use.

How do you greet someone in French?

The most common greetings in French are “bonjour” and “bonsoir.” The first can be utilized all day, and the second in the evening. In a more casual atmosphere, “salut” is also commonly used.

Most common French greetings

Bonjour (hello), enchanté(e) (great to meet you), bonsoir (good evening/hello), salut (hi), coucou (hey), a fait longtemps, dis donc (lang time no see), llo (hello), a va? (How are you? ) how are you doing? (How have you been? ), what’s new? (How are you?) Goodbye!How to say hi in French

In French, as in other Romantic languages, there is no one-size-fits-all strategy for greeting strangers. The language you use is determined by your relationship with the other person, the time of day, and the social situation.

It is nice to welcome someone properly; thus, knowing when to utilize each choice is as important as knowing the greeting itself. Remember that a good first impression can last a lifetime, especially with a romantic interest, coworker, or possible buddy.

After we go over the core terms you should and should not know; we’ll go over some French etiquette principles, such as the dos and don’ts of greeting casual acquaintances and close friends in the language.

Informal and Formal French Salutations

1. Bonjour – Good morning / hello

Do you want to know how to say “good morning” in French? When seeing someone for the first time that day, you can use bonjour to express “good morning” or “hello”—similar to “aloha” in Hawaiian. If you’re wondering what “good afternoon” means in the French language, a less formal version of “hello” is acceptable.

2. Enchanté(e) – Nice to meet you

In a more formal context, it’s acceptable to express your excitement at meeting someone after they introduce themselves, and this statement is ideal for doing so. It demonstrates that you are really thrilled to meet someone new. Who can say? It might lead to a lovely friendship in the future.

3. Bonsoir – Good evening / hello

This French word for “good evening” is used in settings similar to bonjour but is reserved for the evening.

4. Salut – Hi

Saluti is a more relaxed greeting in French that is acceptable when you visit someone later in the day.

5. Coucou – Hey

Close friends, like the ones you’re likely to make as a result of your new language skills, frequently employ this informal French salutation. When seeing close pals, you can bypass the formal bonjour and use this term, or even ciao.

6. Ça fait longtemps, dis donc – Long time, no see

A common greeting between longtime friends, young French people frequently use this phrase.

7. llo – Hello

This French salutation is only used during phone talks.

8. Ça va? – How are you?

A va? is a pretty basic method to ask someone how they are doing. It’s a shortened version of the query “How does it go?” – How are things going for you? Either version is correct and can be used in both official and informal contexts with nearly anyone.

9. Tu vas bien? – How are you doing?

“Are you doing well?” literally means “Are you doing well?” ” This is a polite way of asking someone how they are when you expect a positive response. Hopefully, you assumed right when you asked this question.

10. Quoi de neuf? – What’s up?

This is a pretty informal way of saying hello in French. Therefore, we recommend using it only with close friends. Strangers or even friends of friends may be put off by an uninvited question from someone they don’t know.

If you are in doubt

Remember that gestures are just as important as words when welcoming someone in French. Frenchs utilize body language to greet and communicate hospitality and happiness.

In French, friends greet each other by kissing each other twice on the cheeks or hugging each other tightly. This may appear unusual to people with a strong sense of personal space or to those who come from places where this is not the norm!

Kissing and hugging are frequent in French, but only when you are friendly or with family members. This double kiss is used to greet and say goodbye to someone. A handshake will serve if you do not believe such a gesture is appropriate.

Cheek kissing is a standard French greeting, as in most European countries. However, in French, cheek kissing is reserved for greeting friends and is less common among men. To avoid accidentally touching noses, kiss the left cheek first, then the right. Handshakes are far more common when meeting someone for the first time.

As you get to know the other person, you move more into the cheek-kissing territory.