Everyday greetings are the building blocks of conversation in any language. These common French words and phrases will help you greet people politely and naturally in a variety of situations. You’ll find both formal and informal options, as well as examples for different times of day.
Common Greetings
These are the most common greetings you’ll hear in French, useful in almost any situation.
- ️ Bonjour — Hello / Good morning
- ️ Salut — Hi / Hello (informal)
- ️ Bonsoir — Good evening
- ️ Allô — Hello (on the phone)
Formal Greetings
Use these for polite situations, such as speaking with strangers, elders, or in a professional context.
- ️ Bonjour, monsieur/madame — Hello, sir/ma’am
- ️ Je vous souhaite une bonne journée — I wish you a good day
- ️ Enchanté(e) — Nice to meet you
- ️ Comment allez-vous ? — How are you? (formal)
Informal Greetings
These are perfect for friends, family, and people your own age. Be cautious using them in formal settings.
- ️ Salut ! — Hi!
- ️ Ça va ? — How’s it going?
- ️ Ça roule ? — How’s it going? (very informal)
- ️ Coucou ! — Hey there! (cute, informal)
What is the informal way to say 'Hi!' in French?
Salut !
Salut ! is commonly used among friends and family to say 'Hi!' informally.
Time-Specific Greetings
Use these to greet people appropriately based on the time of day.
- ️ Bonjour — Good morning / Good day
- ️ Bon après-midi — Good afternoon
- ️ Bonsoir — Good evening
- ️ Bonne nuit — Good night
How do you say 'Good afternoon' in French?
Bon après-midi
Bon après-midi means 'Good afternoon' and is used in the early to late afternoon.
Greeting Responses
These short phrases help you respond politely and keep the conversation flowing.
- ️ Ça va bien, merci. — I’m fine, thank you.
- ️ Pas mal. — Not bad.
- ️ Comme ci, comme ça. — So-so.
- ️ Et toi ? — And you? (informal)
- ️ Et vous ? — And you? (formal)
What is the formal way to ask 'And you?' in French?
Et vous ?
Et vous ? is the formal way to ask 'And you?' using the polite 'vous' form.
Lesson Summary
- Bonjour, Salut, and Bonsoir are key greetings for different times of day.
- Use Bonjour, monsieur/madame and Comment allez-vous ? for formal situations.
- Salut, Ça va ?, and Coucou ! are informal options.
- You can respond with simple phrases like Ça va bien, merci or Comme ci, comme ça.
- Time-specific words include Bon après-midi and Bonne nuit for afternoon and bedtime.
With these everyday greetings, you’ll be ready to start conversations politely and naturally in French. Practice using them in context to build your confidence!
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
