Learn Greetings in French: Essential Words and Phrases for Greeting People
Greetings are a crucial part of every conversation. Learning them properly is essential to avoid mistakes when meeting someone. In French, as in English, there are different ways to say “hello” depending on the situation, whether it’s a job interview, at school, in a store, or with relatives.
This is particularly important if you plan to travel to France or if you are already living there. In this lesson, you will learn the common greetings in French and how to use them properly and confidently, with audio files for pronunciation.
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This guide covers 14 essential French greetings and goodbyes, split by formality, each with an example sentence and audio pronunciation.
Jump to a category: Formal Greetings · Informal Greetings · FAQ
Formal Greetings – Salutation formelle
Use these with people you don’t know well, in professional settings, or to show respect.
| French Word | English Translation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Bonjour |
Hello | Bonjour monsieur = Hello Sir Bonjour madame = Hello Madam Used from morning until 6 pm — not “bon matin” (matin = morning). |
| Bonsoir |
Good evening | Bonsoir monsieur = Good evening Sir Bonsoir madame = Good evening Madam Used after 6 pm — also works to say goodbye. |
| Au revoir |
Goodbye | Merci, au revoir = Thank you, goodbye |
Informal Greetings – Salutation informelle
Use these with family, friends, colleagues, teammates, and people your own age.
| French Word | English Translation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Salut |
Hi | Salut Martin = Hi Martin Comment vas-tu ? = How are you? Je pars, salut. = I am leaving, goodbye. In France you’ll also hear “bye” or “ciao”. |
| À plus tard / à plus |
See you later / See you | J’y vais, à plus tard. = I am going, see you later. J’y vais, à plus. = I am going, see you. |
| À tout à l’heure / à toute |
See you later / See you | J’y vais, à tout à l’heure. = I am going, see you later. J’y vais, à toute. = I am going, see you. |
| À bientôt |
See you soon | J’y vais, à bientôt. = I am going, see you soon. (informal) Au revoir, à bientôt. = Goodbye, see you soon. (formal) |
| À demain |
See you tomorrow | J’y vais, à demain. = I am going, see you tomorrow. (informal) Au revoir, à demain. = Goodbye, see you tomorrow. (formal) |
| À la semaine prochaine |
See you next week | Salut, à la semaine prochaine. = Bye, see you next week. (informal) Au revoir, à la semaine prochaine. = Goodbye, see you next week. (formal) |
| Bonne journée |
Have a good day | Salut, bonne journée. = Bye, have a good day. (informal) Au revoir, bonne journée. = Goodbye, have a good day. (formal) |
| Bonne après-midi |
Have a good afternoon | Salut, bonne après-midi. = Bye, have a good afternoon. (informal) Au revoir, bonne après-midi. = Goodbye, have a good afternoon. (formal) “Bon après-midi” is also correct. |
| Bonne soirée |
Have a good evening | Salut, bonne soirée. = Bye, have a good evening. (informal) Au revoir, bonne soirée. = Goodbye, have a good evening. (formal) |
| Bonne nuit | Have a good night | Salut, bonne nuit. = Bye, have a good night. Assumes your friend is going home to sleep — if they’re staying at the party, use “bonne soirée” instead. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between Bonjour and Salut?
Bonjour is neutral to formal and safe to use with anyone, including strangers. Salut is informal — reserve it for family, friends, and people your own age.
When should I use Bonsoir instead of Bonjour?
Switch to Bonsoir after around 6 pm. It can also be used to say goodbye in the evening, not just hello.
Is à plus too casual to use with colleagues?
À plus is friendly and informal, fine with colleagues you’re on good terms with, but avoid it with your boss or in formal emails — use au revoir instead.
What’s the difference between bonne soirée and bonne nuit?
Bonne soirée means “have a good evening” and works even if the person isn’t going to bed yet. Bonne nuit specifically implies they’re about to sleep.
Can I use the same goodbye in both formal and informal situations?
Some, like à bientôt and à demain, work in both contexts. Others, like salut, are informal only — pair them with au revoir for the formal equivalent.
You can also watch our video to learn how to greet people in French:
We hope this lesson was helpful for you. If you have any questions, please leave a comment.
Are you looking to improve your French conversation skills? One important aspect of daily conversation is being able to describe your daily routine. Whether you’re talking about your morning routine, your work schedule, or your evening activities, knowing the right vocabulary and grammar can help you express yourself more clearly and effectively.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to describe your daily routine in French, with plenty of examples to help you practice. So if you’re ready to take your French to the next level, check out our guide on describing your daily routine in French!
