Starting a conversation in French often begins with a simple, polite greeting. In France, it's customary to greet someone when you enter a shop, a bakery, or even a doctor's waiting room. A quick "Bonjour" acknowledges everyone and sets a friendly tone.

The most essential greeting is Bonjour. It literally means “good day,” and it’s your go-to word for “hello.” You can use it in any situation, whether you're talking to a friend, a shopkeeper, or your boss. It works from the morning until the late afternoon.

Once evening arrives, around 6 PM or so, people switch to Bonsoir. It’s just as versatile as Bonjour, but it’s used exclusively at night to say “good evening.”

For a more casual greeting, you can use Salut. It's like saying “hi” in English. You’d use this with friends, family, and people your own age. Interestingly, Salut can also mean “bye,” making it a handy, informal word for both greetings and farewells.

Just as there are different ways to say hello, there are several ways to say goodbye. The most common and widely used farewell is Au revoir.

Literally, Au revoir means “until the seeing again.” It’s a polite and standard way to end any conversation, fitting for both formal and informal settings.

If you expect to see the person again soon, you can say À bientôt, which means “See you soon.” It’s friendly and a little more specific than a general goodbye.

Finally, you can wish someone well for the rest of their day or night. These phrases are often said after Au revoir.

• Bonne journée means “Have a good day.”
• Bonne soirée means “Have a good evening.”
• Bonne nuit is used right before someone goes to sleep, meaning “Good night.”

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