15 Most Essential French Greetings

15 Most Essential French Greetings – How well-versed are you in the many forms of French greetings and salutations (how to say hello in French)? The chore of mastering fundamental words in French, such as “bonjour” (good morning) and “merci” (thank you), is often the first one that would-be French speakers embark on. After reaching that point, one’s options become almost limitless. 

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A thoughtful welcome extended to another person has the potential to forge new bonds and strengthen existing ones. It may not seem like much of an accomplishment, but being able to properly pronounce “bonjour” and “comment “ça va?” in French can have a significant influence on your ability to communicate with native French speakers wherever in the globe.

There are a lot of other pleasant French greetings available to you, in addition, to “bonjour,” which is a good alternative and will get you by in any passing discussion. However, “bonjour” is the only one. You may discover ones that are meant for welcoming an old friend, and you’ll also find others that are meant for informing the same buddy that you’ll see them again in the future. You’ll even find words to utilize while speaking with complete strangers. Your grasp of the French language will grow as a result of all of these phrases, and your friends who are bilingual will be impressed.

Let’s have a look at some everyday words that you may use to introduce yourself and create a great first impression!

What Are the 15 Most Essential French Greetings, and What Do They Mean?

The most crucial aspect

The following are some French greetings:

1. Bonjour (hello), 
2. Enchanté (great to meet you), 
3. Bonsoir (good evening/hello),
4. Salut (good morning) (hi), 
5. Coucou (hey),
6. Ça fait longtemps, 
7. Dis donc (long time no see),
8. Âllo (hello), 
9. Ça va? (how are you?), 
10. Tu vas bien? (have you been well?), 
11. Quoi de neuf? (what’s up? ), 
12. Au revoir! I’ll see you later! (goodbye), 
13. Salut (bye), 
14. Siao (see ya!),
15. À plus! (later), 
16. À demain! (I’ll see you in the morning).

In the same way that there is no standard way to welcome someone in other Romantic languages, there is also no standard way to do so in French. Your choice of words and phrases should reflect your connection with the other person, the time of day, and the environment in which you are conversing.

Because it is courteous to properly welcome other people, it is just as important to know when to utilize each choice as it is to know the greeting itself. Keep in mind that the initial impression you make with someone, whether they be a love interest, colleague, or possible friend, may last a lifetime. This is particularly true in romantic relationships.

After we go over the fundamental phrases you need to know—and should know—we’ll also look at some fundamentals of French etiquettes, such as the dos and don’ts of saying hello to casual acquaintances and close friends using the language. This will be done after we cover the fundamental phrases you need to know—and should know.

Watching this little video can help you get a head start on correctly pronouncing some of these more frequent greetings. After that, we’ll go below to discuss how to properly welcome someone and start a discussion in further depth.

French greetings may be either informal or formal.

1. Bonjour, which means good morning or hello in French

Are you curious about the French phrase for “good morning”? When you encounter someone for the first time throughout the day, you may say either “good morning” or “hello” to them using the French word bonjour, which is equivalent to the Hawaiian word “aloha.” It is fine to use a less formal version of “hello” if you are wondering what “good afternoon” means in French. You may say “hello” instead.

2. Enchanté(e) – Nice to meet you

After someone has introduced themselves to you in a more formal situation, it is considered polite to express that you are glad to meet them, and the phrase “it’s a pleasure to meet you” is the ideal way to do so. It demonstrates that you are really excited to get to know someone new. Who could say? It has the potential to develop into a lovely relationship in the years to come.

3. Bonsoir means “good evening” or “hello” in English.

This term, which means “good evening” in French, is used in circumstances in which “bonjour” would normally be used, however, it is only ever used in the evening.

4. Salut – Hi

When you encounter someone again later in the day, you may use the greeting “salut,” which is considered to be one of the most informal forms of French welcome.

5. Coucou, or “Hey,” is a casual French greeting that you should use often. 

This will help you establish close friends in French, which you are sure to do now that you know the language. When greeting close allies, you don’t need to use the formal “bonjour” greeting; instead, you may use this term or even “ciao.”

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

This statement is often used as a kind of welcome amongst longtime friends in French culture, particularly among younger generations.

7. Âllo – Hello

This particular French greeting is used just for interactions that take place by telephone.

8. Ça va? – How have you been?

Saying “how are you?” to someone is a quick and easy method to find out how they are doing.

This is a shortened form of the question that was asked.

Comment ca va? translates to how are you getting along? Either interpretation is valid, and both may be used appropriately in official and informal contexts with almost anybody.

9. Tu vas bien? – How are you doing?

The literal translation of this phrase is “how are you doing?” When you ask someone how they are doing in this manner, you are showing courtesy and preparing yourself for a pleasant response. When you pose this question, I really hope that you have made the right assumption.

10. “What’s new?” in French is “Quoi de neuf?”

Because this way of greeting someone in French is somewhat informal, we suggest that you save its use for conversations with very close friends only. A casual query such as this one coming from someone who doesn’t know them might make complete strangers or even friends of friends feel a bit uneasy.

Expressions to Use in French When Separating

You should now study how to appropriately part ways with friends now that you are familiar with popular methods to greet them when you meet them. For example, you should learn how to say “see you later” in French. As is the case with farewells, these statements might be different depending on the setting and the degree of acquaintance with the person being farewelled.

11. Au revoir! – Goodbye!

This is a secure method to say farewell in French regardless of the social environment or how well you know the individual since it is somewhat formal and may be used in any circumstance.

12. Salut! – Bye!

This term meaning “goodbye” in French is far less formal than its counterpart, “au revoir.” At the conclusion of an ordinary get-together, this is the kind of French courtesy phrase that is usually reserved for the most intimate of friends and family members.

13. Ciao! – See ya!

This term has its roots in Italian, but it has gained widespread use among younger speakers of French and among foreign speakers all over the globe.

14. À plus! – Later!

This is one of those basic, informal, and warm welcomes in French, and it’s also a straightforward method to let someone know that you’ll see them again at some point in the future.

15. À demain! – See you in the morning!

If you are certain that you will see the other person within a short amount of time, you may substitute any day of the week for “demain.”

There is a long list of things you should and should not do while speaking any language, and French is no exception. Follow along with our etiquette advice as we walk you through how to say hello in French so that you may leave a good impression on people and stay out of trouble at the same time.

There are many considerations that go into the correct protocol when welcoming someone in France. The manner in which you welcome each individual, from coworkers to merchants, is contingent on the nature of your connection with that person as well as the circumstance in which you are greeting them. Different greetings and farewells are appropriate to use while conversing with friends vs strangers. Take, for instance:

Les bises, which literally translates to “kisses,” are a common kind of greeting between friends in France. In a more official or business-like situation, you wouldn’t behave in this manner.

It’s possible to give one, two, or even three pecks on the cheek when you give someone “la bise” in France, but it all depends on where you are. If you’re not sure what to do, it’s best to allow the other person to take the lead and decide which side of your face to approach. In most cases, the kisses start on the right side of the recipient’s face. The greeting of shaking hands is customary in social situations that are considered to be formal or professional.

When approaching a business meeting, it is customary for coworkers to give each other a strong handshake since this gesture conveys the message that you are there to do business. The French greeting of “une bise” is not as widespread among males as the practice of shaking hands while greeting one another.

In contrast to common American welcomes, a hug is reserved only for members of one’s own family or significant others. Have you ever wanted to know how to pronounce “family” in French? It’s “une family”.

Hugging someone might be considered an invasion of their privacy in France, and if you don’t know someone well enough, it may make them feel awkward if you embrace them. During get-togethers and holiday celebrations, you should save your hugs for your closest friends and members of your family.