French Conversation Basics
French Greetings
Saying Hello
Starting a conversation in French begins with a simple greeting. The most common and versatile way to say hello is "bonjour."
Good day
Literally translating to "good day," bonjour is a polite and safe bet in almost any situation, whether you're walking into a bakery, meeting someone for the first time, or greeting your teacher. You can use it throughout the morning and afternoon.
Start with a Polite Greeting In France, politeness is essential.
For friends, family, or people your own age, you can use a more casual greeting.
Hi
Salut is the French equivalent of "hi." It's informal and friendly. Think of it as the greeting you'd use with a close colleague or a friend you bump into on the street. Interestingly, salut can also mean "bye" in the same casual contexts.
Evening and Night
Once evening arrives, French speakers switch from bonjour to bonsoir.
Good evening
There's no strict rule for when to make the change, but it's generally used from around 6 p.m. onwards. Like bonjour, it’s a polite greeting you can use when entering a restaurant for dinner or meeting someone in the evening.
When you're leaving for the night or heading to bed, there's a specific phrase to use.
Good night
Be careful with bonne nuit. It's not a greeting like "good evening." It specifically means you're going to sleep. You would say it to your family before going to your room for the night, but not to a shopkeeper when leaving their store in the evening.
Ways to Say Goodbye
The most standard way to say goodbye is au revoir.
Goodbye
It literally means "until we see again" and is appropriate for any situation, formal or informal. It's the perfect, all-purpose farewell.
Whether you're leaving a business meeting or a casual coffee with a friend, au revoir always works.
If you expect to see the person again soon, you can use a more specific phrase.
See you soon
This phrase implies that you'll see each other again, but at an unspecified time in the near future. It’s a warm and friendly way to say goodbye.
Finally, if you're leaving someone during the day, it's common and polite to wish them a good day.
Have a good day
This is a farewell, not a greeting. You'd say it as you leave a café in the morning or part ways with a colleague after lunch. It’s a thoughtful way to end a conversation.
Ready to test your knowledge? Let's see what you remember.