French Greetings
Master essential French greetings and polite expressions for everyday conversations.
Basic Greetings
Start your conversations with these essential greetings:
Bonjour
Hello / Good morning
Pronunciation: bon-ZHOOR
Used from morning until evening
Bonsoir
Good evening
Pronunciation: bon-SWAHR
Used in the evening and night
Salut
Hi / Bye
Pronunciation: sah-LOO
Informal greeting, used with friends
Au revoir
Goodbye
Pronunciation: oh ruh-VWAHR
Formal way to say goodbye
À bientôt
See you soon
Pronunciation: ah bee-ahn-TOH
When you expect to see someone soon
À demain
See you tomorrow
Pronunciation: ah duh-MAN
When you'll see someone tomorrow
Bonne nuit
Good night
Pronunciation: bun NWEE
Used when going to bed
Bonne journée
Have a good day
Pronunciation: bun zhoor-NAY
Wishing someone a good day
Bonne soirée
Have a good evening
Pronunciation: bun swah-RAY
Wishing someone a good evening
À plus tard
See you later
Pronunciation: ah ploo TAHR
Informal way to say goodbye
Coucou
Hey there
Pronunciation: koo-KOO
Very informal, playful greeting
Salut tout le monde
Hi everyone
Pronunciation: sah-LOO too luh MOND
Greeting a group of people
Polite Expressions
Essential polite expressions for courteous conversations:
Merci
Thank you
Pronunciation: mer-SEE
Basic thank you
Merci beaucoup
Thank you very much
Pronunciation: mer-SEE boh-KOO
Emphasized thank you
De rien
You're welcome
Pronunciation: duh ree-AN
Response to thank you
Excusez-moi
Excuse me
Pronunciation: eks-koo-zay MWAH
To get attention or apologize
Pardon
Sorry / Pardon
Pronunciation: par-DOHN
To apologize or ask for repetition
Je suis désolé(e)
I'm sorry
Pronunciation: zhuh swee day-zoh-LAY
Formal apology (add 'e' if you're female)
Pas de problème
No problem
Pronunciation: pah duh proh-BLEM
Casual response to apology
Aucun problème
No problem at all
Pronunciation: oh-KUN proh-BLEM
More formal response to apology
S'il vous plaît
Please
Pronunciation: seel voo PLAY
Formal way to say please
S'il te plaît
Please
Pronunciation: seel tuh PLAY
Informal way to say please
Bienvenue
Welcome
Pronunciation: bee-ahn-vuh-NOO
Welcoming someone
Félicitations
Congratulations
Pronunciation: fay-lee-see-tah-SYOHN
Congratulating someone
S'il vous plaît
Please
Pronunciation: seel voo PLAY
Formal please
Introductions
Learn how to introduce yourself and ask about others:
Je m'appelle...
My name is...
Pronunciation: zhuh ma-PELL
To introduce yourself
Comment vous appelez-vous?
What's your name?
Pronunciation: koh-MAHN voo za-play VOO
Formal way to ask someone's name
Comment tu t'appelles?
What's your name?
Pronunciation: koh-MAHN too ta-PELL
Informal way to ask someone's name
Enchanté(e)
Nice to meet you
Pronunciation: ahn-shahn-TAY
When meeting someone for the first time
Comment allez-vous?
How are you?
Pronunciation: koh-MAHN ta-lay VOO
Formal way to ask how someone is
Comment ça va?
How are you?
Pronunciation: koh-MAHN sah VAH
Informal way to ask how someone is
Common Responses
How to respond when someone asks how you are:
Ça va bien
I'm doing well
Pronunciation: sah VAH bee-AN
Positive response to how are you
Ça va mal
I'm doing badly
Pronunciation: sah VAH mahl
Negative response to how are you
Comme ci, comme ça
So-so
Pronunciation: kohm SEE, kohm SAH
Neutral response to how are you
Très bien
Very well
Pronunciation: tray bee-AN
Very positive response