# How to Say Hello in French — Bonjour and 11 More French Greetings

> Hello in French is **bonjour** (bohn-ZHOOR) — it means both "hello" and "good day", and you
> can say it to anyone. The casual version, for friends only, is **salut** (sah-LU). In the
> evening, **bonsoir** (bohn-SWAHR). On the phone — and only on the phone — **allô**.

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Updated: 2026-08-27

## Every French greeting at a glance

| French | Pronunciation | Meaning / use |
|---|---|---|
| bonjour | bohn-ZHOOR | hello / good day — works with anyone, all day |
| bonsoir | bohn-SWAHR | good evening — from roughly 6 p.m. |
| salut | sah-LU | hi — friends only; also means bye |
| coucou | koo-KOO | hi there — playful, for close friends and family |
| allô | ah-LOH | hello — **on the phone only** |
| enchanté / enchantée | ahn-shahn-TAY | nice to meet you — on being introduced |
| bonjour Madame / Monsieur | bohn-zhoor mah-DAHM / muh-SYUH | hello Madam / Sir — the polite full form |
| rebonjour | ruh-bohn-ZHOOR | hello again — for the second time today |
| ça va ? | sah VAH | how's it going? — a greeting in its own right |
| bienvenue | byan-vuh-NU | welcome — what a host says at the door |
| bonne journée | bun zhoor-NAY | have a good day — a *goodbye*, not a hello |
| bonne soirée | bun swah-RAY | have a good evening — also a goodbye |

## The bonjour rule visitors get wrong

In France, **bonjour** comes before anything else — bakery, pharmacy, corner shop, waiting
room, the lift in a block of flats. Ask for your croissant without it and you haven't been
brisk, you've been rude.

- The polite full form is **bonjour Madame** / **bonjour Monsieur**. Use it with anyone
  serving you, anyone older, anyone you haven't met. *Madame* is the default for any adult
  woman; *mademoiselle* has fallen out of everyday use.
- **Bonjour is once a day, per person.** Greet a colleague at nine and you don't greet them
  again at eleven. The fix the second time is **rebonjour** ("re-hello"), usually said with a
  smile — shortened to **re** in messages. A nod and a smile also works.

## Bonjour or bonsoir? Salut or bonjour?

- **bonjour** covers the whole working day; **bonsoir** takes over once the evening starts,
  typically after 6 p.m. There is no exact clock rule — if unsure, let the other person speak
  first and use the same word. *Bonsoir* also works on the way out.
- **bonne nuit** (bun NWEE) is "good night" and only ever a goodbye — it's for bed.
- **salut** is one word for hello *and* goodbye, but only for people you call *tu*. Said to a
  shopkeeper it lands like calling a stranger "mate". **coucou** goes further into affection:
  close friends, family, children, text messages.
- While you're learning: **bonjour is never wrong; salut can be.**

**Allô is for the phone. Only the phone.** *Allô* is what you say when you pick up. Say it to
someone standing in front of you and it sounds like you're checking whether they can hear
you. In person, always *bonjour*.

## What to say back

| They say | You say | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| bonjour | bonjour | mirror it; add *Madame* / *Monsieur* if they did |
| bonsoir | bonsoir | the same move, after dark |
| salut | salut | only if you'd call them *tu* |
| coucou | coucou | or *salut* — friends and family only |
| ça va ? | ça va, et toi ? | answer first, *then* ask back (ay TWAH) |
| enchanté(e) | enchanté(e) | straight back — both spellings sound identical |
| bienvenue | merci | the guest's line (mehr-SEE) |
| bonne journée | merci, vous aussi ! | mehr-see voo-zoh-SEE; *toi aussi* with friends |
| bonne soirée | merci, vous aussi ! | identical reply, later in the day |
| allô ? | allô, bonjour… | then say who is calling |

French greetings are mostly a **mirror** — send the same word back, with *Madame* or
*Monsieur* if they used it. The exception is **ça va ?**, a question wearing a greeting's
clothes: answer first, then hand it back — *ça va, et toi ?* with a friend, *ça va, merci, et
vous ?* (ay VOO) with anyone else. *Ça va* on its own is a complete reply.

Keep **bienvenue** in its own box: it means "welcome" at the door. In France it is *not* a
reply to *merci* — that use belongs to Quebec. In France the reply to *merci* is *de rien*.

## FAQ

**What is the most common way to say hello in French?**
Bonjour (bohn-ZHOOR). It means both "hello" and "good day", works morning to evening with
anyone, and the polite full form is bonjour Madame / bonjour Monsieur.

**What is the difference between bonjour and bonsoir?**
Bonjour is the daytime greeting; bonsoir takes over once the evening starts, typically after
6 p.m. There is no exact clock time — if unsure, copy whoever speaks first.

**Is salut formal or informal?**
Informal only — friends, family, anyone you call tu. It also means bye. With strangers, shop
staff or at work, use bonjour.

**What does coucou mean?**
A playful "hi" (koo-KOO) for close friends, family and children, very common in texts. Out of
place with strangers or at work.

**Do the French say allô in person?**
No. Allô is for the phone, almost always when answering it. In person, the greeting is
bonjour.

## Related guides

- How are you? in French: https://cocoonfrench.com/guides/how-are-you-in-french
- Thank you in French: https://cocoonfrench.com/guides/thank-you-in-french
- Common French phrases: https://cocoonfrench.com/guides/common-french-phrases
- All guides: https://cocoonfrench.com/guides