Essential French Greetings for Beginners/Les salutations françaises essentielles pour les débutants

Essential French Greetings

1. Bonjour ! (Hello / Good morning)

• Pronunciation / Prononciation : [bohn-zhoor]

• When to use / Quand l’utiliser : Use in the morning and during the day.À utiliser le matin et pendant la journée.

Image suggestion: Smiling child waving “Bonjour!” with a sun in the background.

2. Salut! (Hi)

Pronunciation: [sah-loo]When to use: “Salut!” is a friendly, informal greeting used with friends, classmates, or people your age. It’s similar to saying “Hi!” in English.

3. Bonsoir! (Good evening)

Pronunciation: [bohn-swahr]When to use: Use “Bonsoir!” in the evening, usually after 6 p.m., when greeting someone or entering a room.

4. Coucou! (Hey there!)

Pronunciation: [koo-koo]When to use: “Coucou!” is a super casual and cute way to say hello, often used between close friends or family, especially with kids.

5. Comment ça va? (How are you?)

Pronunciation: [koh-mahn sah vah]When to use: After saying hello, it’s common to ask how someone is doing. “Comment ça va?” is a casual and friendly greeting.

Responses:

• Ça va bien, merci. (I’m good, thank you.)

• Comme ci, comme ça. (So-so.)

• Ça ne va pas. (Not so well.)

6. Au revoir! (Goodbye)

Pronunciation: [oh ruh-vwahr]When to use: Use “Au revoir!” when you’re leaving. It’s polite and works in any situation.

7. À bientôt! (See you soon!)

Pronunciation: [ah byahn-toh]When to use: Say this to someone you’ll see again soon, like a friend or classmate.

Practice Time!

Try greeting your family or friends in French today! For example:

• In the morning: “Bonjour, maman !”

• To a friend: “Salut, Lucas ! Comment ça va ?”

• When leaving: “Au revoir ! À bientôt !”

Fun Fact

In France, it’s common to greet everyone when you enter a small shop or classroom. A simple “Bonjour!” makes a great impression!

Ready to learn more?

Stay tuned for our next post on mastering French numbers!