French Greetings: 25 Ways to Say Hello, Goodbye & How Are You

French Greetings: Your Complete Guide

Knowing how to greet someone in French is the very first step to speaking the language. But here is the thing most textbooks do not tell you: using the wrong greeting in the wrong situation can make a terrible first impression. Saying "salut" to your boss or "bonjour" to your best friend at a party sends the wrong signal every time.

This guide covers 25 essential French greetings — from the most formal to the most casual — with clear rules on when to use each one.

Saying Hello in French

1. Bonjour — The Universal Hello

Bonjour (bohn-ZHOOR) literally means "good day" and is the safest French greeting. Use it with anyone, anywhere, anytime during the day.

In France, you say "bonjour" when you walk into a shop, greet a colleague, meet someone new, or start a phone call. Not saying bonjour is considered rude — it is the absolute minimum level of politeness.

When to use it: Morning through late afternoon. With strangers, colleagues, shopkeepers, doctors, teachers — anyone.

2. Bonsoir — Good Evening

Bonsoir (bohn-SWAHR) means "good evening" and replaces bonjour after roughly 6 PM or after sunset. It works in both formal and casual settings.

When to use it: Evening situations — arriving at a restaurant, entering a shop in the evening, greeting someone at a dinner party.

3. Salut — Hey / Hi

Salut (sah-LU) is the casual hello. It is the equivalent of "hey" or "hi" in English. Only use it with friends, family, and people you know well.

When to use it: With friends, classmates, people your age in informal settings. Never with strangers, at work, or with older people you do not know well.

4. Coucou — Hey There!

Coucou (koo-KOO) literally means "cuckoo" and is a very affectionate, playful greeting. Think of it as the French equivalent of "hey there!" or "hiya!"

When to use it: Close friends, family, children. It is very informal — never use it in professional or formal situations.

5. Allô — Hello (Phone Only)

Allô (ah-LO) is used exclusively when answering the phone. It is never used as a face-to-face greeting.

When to use it: Picking up a phone call and nothing else.

6. Rebonjour — Hello Again

Rebonjour (ruh-bohn-ZHOOR) means "hello again." Use it when you see someone for the second time in the same day.

When to use it: Running into a colleague again after lunch, seeing your neighbor again at the store.

Asking "How Are You?" in French

7. Comment allez-vous ? — How Are You? (Formal)

Comment allez-vous ? (koh-mahn tah-lay VOO) is the formal way to ask how someone is doing. Use the same situations where you would say "bonjour."

8. Comment vas-tu ? — How Are You? (Informal)

Comment vas-tu ? (koh-mahn vah TU) is the informal version. Use it with people you address as "tu" rather than "vous."

9. Ça va ? — How's It Going?

Ça va ? (sah VAH) is the most common casual way to ask how someone is. It works as both a question and an answer:

• "Ça va ?" (How's it going?)
• "Ça va !" (I'm fine!)
• "Ça va bien, et toi ?" (I'm good, and you?)

10. Quoi de neuf ? — What's New?

Quoi de neuf ? (kwah duh NUF) means "what's new?" — casual and friendly.

11. La forme ? — Feeling Good?

La forme ? (lah FORM) is a very casual way to ask if someone is doing well. Literally "in shape?"

Responding to "How Are You?"

12. Très bien, merci — Very Well, Thank You

Très bien, merci (tray bee-EN, mair-SEE) is the standard polite response.

13. Bien, et vous/toi ? — Good, and You?

Bien, et vous ? (formal) or Bien, et toi ? (informal) — returns the question.

14. Pas mal — Not Bad

Pas mal (pah MAL) is casual and neutral — "not bad."

15. Comme ci, comme ça — So-so

Comme ci, comme ça (kohm SEE kohm SAH) means "so-so" — neither good nor bad.

16. Bof — Meh

Bof (BOF) is the most French response possible. It means "meh" or "not great, not terrible." Very casual.

Saying Goodbye in French

17. Au revoir — Goodbye

Au revoir (oh ruh-VWAHR) literally means "until we see each other again." It is the standard, universal goodbye that works in every situation.

18. Salut — Bye

Salut does double duty — it means both "hi" and "bye" in casual situations. Context makes it clear which one you mean.

19. Bonne journée — Have a Good Day

Bonne journée (bun zhoor-NAY) is said when parting during the day. It is warmer than "au revoir" — it is like wishing someone well.

20. Bonne soirée — Have a Good Evening

Bonne soirée (bun swah-RAY) is the evening version. Say it when leaving a dinner, restaurant, or evening event.

21. Bonne nuit — Good Night

Bonne nuit (bun NWEE) means "good night" and is only used when someone is actually going to bed. Do not use it as a general evening goodbye.

22. À bientôt — See You Soon

À bientôt (ah bee-EN-toh) means "see you soon" without specifying when.

23. À tout à l'heure — See You Later (Today)

À tout à l'heure (ah too tah LUHR) means "see you later today." Only use it if you will actually see the person again the same day.

24. À demain — See You Tomorrow

À demain (ah duh-MAN) means "see you tomorrow" — use it when you know you will see someone the next day.

25. Bisous — Kisses (Bye!)

Bisous (bee-ZOO) means "kisses" and is used as an affectionate goodbye between close friends and family — especially common in text messages and phone calls.

La Bise: The French Cheek Kiss

No guide to French greetings is complete without mentioning la bise — the famous French cheek-kiss greeting. Here are the rules:

• Who: Friends, family, social acquaintances. Not strangers or in professional settings (unless you know the person well).
• How many: Two kisses in Paris and most of northern France. Three in the south. Four in some eastern regions.
• Which cheek first: Usually start with the right cheek (left cheek touches), but it varies by region — follow the other person's lead.
• When NOT to do it: Job interviews, formal business meetings, with people you have just met in professional contexts. A handshake is safer.

The Formality Scale

Here is a quick reference from most formal to most casual:

• Most formal: Bonjour + Comment allez-vous ? + Au revoir
• Professional: Bonjour + Vous allez bien ? + Bonne journée
• Friendly: Salut + Ça va ? + À bientôt
• Close friends: Coucou + Quoi de neuf ? + Bisous
• Text messages: Cc (short for coucou) + Cv ? (short for ça va) + Biz (short for bisous)

5 Common Greeting Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Not Greeting at All

In France, walking into a shop without saying "bonjour" is considered rude. Always greet before asking a question or making a request.

Mistake 2: Using "Tu" with Strangers

Default to "vous" (formal you) with anyone you do not know well. Let the French person suggest switching to "tu" — they will say "on peut se tutoyer" (we can use tu with each other).

Mistake 3: Saying "Bonne nuit" Too Early

"Bonne nuit" is only for bedtime. If someone is leaving a dinner party at 10 PM but not going straight to bed, say "bonne soirée" instead.

Mistake 4: Forgetting "Bonne journée" When Leaving

In shops, restaurants, and after meetings, the French almost always say "bonne journée" (or "bonne soirée" in the evening) when parting. It is expected and shows politeness.

Mistake 5: Mixing Up "Bisous" in Professional Emails

"Bisous" is affectionate and personal. In professional emails, sign off with "cordialement" (regards) or "bien à vous" (yours truly) — never "bisous."

Practice These Greetings

The best way to master French greetings is to use them daily. Start with bonjour and au revoir in every interaction, then gradually add the casual greetings as you become more comfortable.

Want to practice your French with a real teacher? Book a free 30-minute assessment with Magali at French Keys — she will evaluate your level and help you build confidence in real French conversations. Download our free French flashcards for 100 essential words and expressions to boost your vocabulary even further.