Hello And Welcome'' In French

💋To say hello in French, most students are familiar with "bonjour". And it's very common to say "bonjour". But there are other ways to say howdy in French.

So allow's see the many different ways to say how-do-you-do in French.

Bonjour: the Most Common Mode to say hello in French

Saying "bonjour" has to be the virtually mutual manner of saying howdy in French. And it's commonly accompanied by a "bisous à la française" – a buss on the cheeks – or a firm hand shake. Note we exercise not hug in France when nosotros greet each other.

A Polite Way to Say Howdy in French

Note that information technology is much more polite to follow this "bonjour" by "Madame" (for a lady), "Monsieur" (for a man) or "Mademoiselle" (tricky… for a younger woman: read my article about this Madame or Mademoiselle, a delicate question)

Then, when saying hello in French, endeavor to arrive the habit of saying:

Bonjour Madame
Bonjour Monsieur
Bonjour mademoiselle
or Bonjour Camille if you are on a first-proper noun footing with the person
Bonjour monsieur Dupont – for more formal occasions.

When a politician adresses the nation, he usually starts his oral communication with Bonjour Mesdames, bonjour Messieurs…

Proverb Hello in French to a Large Group of People

If you were to enter a room total of people, like at the boulangerie (bakery) when there is a line, you may then just greet everybody with a general "bonjour".

When I get-go my French videos, I normally say "bonjour à tous" !

How to Say "Hi" in French?

Many French people utilize "salut" to say how-do-you-do in a relaxed, informal way.

So, I've met many American students who therefore concluded that "salut" meant 'hi' in French. And it'south a big error.

Encounter, in the US I would say 'how-do-you-do' all the fourth dimension : to my friends, just as well at the grocery, or greeting the postman.

I would NEVER employ "salut" at the grocery or talking to the postman to say "Hi" in French! I would say "Bonjour".

"Salut" is used among peers… At present, this is also a question of social class. I'chiliad distressing I cannot be PC here, simply social grade counts a lot in French republic. Someone from a blue collar grade may easily utilize "salut", even with full strangers if he feels they belong to the same social class.

Someone from a white collar course would simply use "salut" with friends or acquaintances, but not strangers.

Of course, information technology's hard to write about what "people" do and don't practise… At that place always are exceptions to all stereotypes. Yet I thought this was worth mentioning.

What does "Coucou" Mean?

That's my personal favorite way to say hello in French. I utilize information technology a lot. Apply "coucou" with all my friends and family. In that location is really no United states of america English equivalent… It's a bit like 'toodaloo' in British English except that 'toodaloo' is used to say goodbye!

If you study French with my French audiobook learning method, you'll learn all these expressions with audio within the context of an ongoing novel.

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More than Details & Audio Samples

Now permit's encounter how to say hello in French in particular occasions.

Bonsoir – Hello in French – But in the Evening

When you greet someone with "Hello" in French in the evening, you lot can say "bonsoir". Same as with "bonjour", information technology's more polite to use something afterwards "bonsoir";

Bonsoir madame
Bonsoir monsieur,
Bonsoir mademoiselle,
Bonsoir Camille
Bonsoir Monsieur Dupont…

When do you showtime saying bonsoir in France? Even the French don't agree… Read the article on the Local.fr for more info on that subject.

Allô ? How-do-you-do in French but Just on the Telephone

I sympathise in that location was a famous TV testify called "Allô, Allô" and therefore many English language speakers are convinced that "Allô" is a common fashion to say hello in French.

But it is not. We only utilise "Allô" to say hi in French on the telephone. On the phone, you apply "Allô" when yous respond the phone, so with a rising questioning voice : "Allô" ?

And then you may start speaking by using it again "Allô, bonjour, c'est Camille"… or skip it "Bonjour, c'est Camille".

So the beginning of a phone conversation could go this way:

Allô ?
Allô, bonjour, c'est Camille.

More most the French Phone vocabulary in my article.

Rebonjour

If you've already said howdy to someone and run across them again, information technology's common to say "rebonjour": "bonjour over again", if you desire…

Skipping Howdy in France – A Big Fault

Some people may skip the "bonjour" part and go directly to another greeting like "ça va" (how are y'all)… but it's not that common.

In whatsoever case, whether you employ the word "bonjour" or non, you should always take the time to greet people in French republic. Information technology's considered quite rude to get ahead and enquire a question without first proverb hello in French.

Oh! And please grinning !! I actually don't know who decided that you shouldn't smile in France!! A smile will open up so many doors, and information technology's so much nicer to talk to people when they smile.

Now, if you are a young lady entering a bar total of men and say "bonjour" with a huge smile, you may go some unwanted attention… But exterior of this context, please practise smiling :-)

What About Kissing Hello in France?

woman kissing hi or goodbye in France

When French people say hello, they will either kiss or shake hands. Sometimes simply wave – like a teenager may do – but it'due south not common.

As I am writing this article, we are in the middle of the Covid 19 crisis, and for safety reasons, the French respect the social distancing and hold on kissing or shaking easily. Will this crisis affect the way French people say hi? I don't know… Simply time will tell!

In any example kissing in French republic definitely deserves some other article !