Every conversation starts with a simple greeting. In French, just like in English, the time of day and your relationship with the person you're speaking to can change the words you use. Let's start with the most common ways to say hello.

The most essential greeting is bonjour. It's a polite and versatile word you can use in almost any situation, whether you're walking into a bakery or meeting someone for the first time.

Literally, bonjour means "good day." You can use it throughout the morning and afternoon. Once evening arrives, it's more appropriate to switch to bonsoir.

For friends and family, you can use a more casual greeting. Salut is the French equivalent of "hi." It's friendly and informal, so you'd use it with people you know well.

After saying hello, it's natural to ask how someone is doing. The most common way to do this is with a simple question.

This phrase can be used in both formal and informal settings. A standard and polite response is to say you're doing well and return the question.

Et toi? is the informal way to ask "And you?". You would use it when replying to a friend. Here's how a quick exchange might look:

Just as there are different ways to say hello, there are a few ways to say goodbye. The classic, all-purpose phrase is au revoir.

It literally means something like "until we see again" and can be used in any situation. If you want to wish someone a good day as you leave, there's a specific phrase for that, too.

You can use this when parting ways with someone in the morning or afternoon. It’s a warm and friendly way to end a conversation.

Time to review these essential phrases.

Ready to test your knowledge? Let's see what you remember.

With these simple greetings, you're ready to start your first basic conversations in French.