How to Say Good Morning in French

How to Say Good Morning in French

Here’s a quirk that surprises learners: French has no dedicated word for “good morning.” The all-purpose daytime greeting Bonjour does the job — but there are warmer and more specific options worth knowing.

The Morning Greeting: Bonjour

Bonjour — pronounced bohn-ZHOOR

It literally means “good day” (bon = good, jour = day) and is used from the moment you wake until evening. So when an English speaker would say “good morning,” the French simply say Bonjour.

Copy the Phrase

The French word for good morning is Bonjour (bohn-ZHOOR).

Pronunciation Notes

Part	Pronunciation	Notes
Bon	bohn	Nasal ‘on’ — the ‘n’ is nasalized, not fully sounded
jour	ZHOOR	Soft ‘zh’ (as in “measure”) + soft French ‘r’

The two tricky sounds: the nasal “on” in bon and the soft “zh” of the j.

All the Ways to Greet the Morning in French

French	Pronunciation	When to Use
Bonjour	bohn-ZHOOR	Standard “good morning / good day”
Bonne matinée	bun mah-tee-NAY	”Have a good morning” (said when parting)
Bien dormi?	byan dor-MEE	”Sleep well?” (casual, intimate)
Coucou	koo-KOO	Soft, affectionate “hey”
Salut	sah-LOO	Casual “hi” (friends)
Bonjour, mon amour	bohn-ZHOOR moh-na-MOOR	”Good morning, my love”

Bonjour vs. Bonne Matinée

This is the key distinction:

• Bonjour — a greeting. You say it when you meet someone in the morning.
• Bonne matinée — a wish. You say it when you part, to mean “have a good morning ahead.” It mirrors how Bonne journée (have a good day) and Bonne soirée (have a good evening) work.

So you might arrive at work and say Bonjour, then later leave a colleague with Bonne matinée!

Warm and Intimate Morning Greetings

To a partner, family member or close friend first thing in the day, French speakers warm things up:

• Bien dormi? — “Did you sleep well?”
• Bonjour, mon amour / ma chérie — “Good morning, my love / my dear.”
• Coucou, bien réveillé(e)? — “Hey, well rested?”

These feel more affectionate than a plain Bonjour.

Cultural Notes

Saying Bonjour in France is near-mandatory courtesy: greet shopkeepers, colleagues and strangers with it before anything else, or you risk seeming rude. Because Bonjour covers the whole day, the switch to Bonsoir (good evening) happens around 6pm or once it’s dark. And don’t confuse Bonne matinée (a morning wish) with Bonne nuit (good night, said before sleep). Open your French mornings with a friendly Bonjour and you’ll always start on the right foot.