Basic Greetings
Learn essential French greetings and polite expressions
Introduction to French Greetings
Greetings are essential for any conversation. French has both formal and informal ways to greet people. Choosing the right greeting shows respect and cultural awareness.
Common Greetings
Let's learn the most common French greetings. Notice the difference between formal and informal expressions.
- Bonjour — Hello / Good morning (bon-ZHOOR)
- Bonsoir — Good evening (bon-SWAHR)
- Salut — Hi / Bye (sah-LOO)
- Au revoir — Goodbye (oh ruh-VWAHR)
- À bientôt — See you soon (ah bee-ahn-TOH)
- À demain — See you tomorrow (ah duh-MAN)
- Bonne nuit — Good night (bun NWEE)
- Bonne journée — Have a good day (bun zhoor-NAY)
- Bonne soirée — Have a good evening (bun swah-RAY)
- À plus tard — See you later (ah ploo TAHR)
- Coucou — Hey there (koo-KOO)
- Salut tout le monde — Hi everyone (sah-LOO too luh MOND)
Polite Expressions
Politeness is very important in French culture. Here are essential polite expressions.
- Merci — Thank you (mer-SEE)
- Merci beaucoup — Thank you very much (mer-SEE boh-KOO)
- De rien — You're welcome (duh ree-AN)
- Excusez-moi — Excuse me (eks-koo-zay MWAH)
- Pardon — Sorry / Pardon (par-DOHN)
- Je suis désolé(e) — I'm sorry (zhuh swee day-zoh-LAY)
- Pas de problème — No problem (pah duh proh-BLEM)
- Aucun problème — No problem at all (oh-KUN proh-BLEM)
- S'il vous plaît — Please (seel voo PLAY)
- S'il te plaît — Please (seel tuh PLAY)
- Bienvenue — Welcome (bee-ahn-vuh-NOO)
- Félicitations — Congratulations (fay-lee-see-tah-SYOHN)
- S'il vous plaît — Please (seel voo PLAY)
Practice: Greetings Quiz
Test your knowledge of French greetings!
Review
Excellent! You've learned essential French greetings! **What You've Learned:** ✓ Basic greetings (Bonjour, Bonsoir, Salut) ✓ Polite expressions (Merci, S'il vous plaît, Excusez-moi) ✓ Formal vs Informal greetings ✓ How to say goodbye (Au revoir, À bientôt) **Important Tips:** • Use "Bonjour" when entering shops or meeting people • "Vous" = formal, "Tu" = informal • Always say "Bonjour" before asking a question • "Salut" is ONLY for friends/family **Cultural Note:** In France, it's considered rude to not greet someone before starting a conversation. Always start with "Bonjour!" **Practice:** Greet 3 people today using "Bonjour" - even if just in practice!