How to Say Hello in French
Learn how to say hello in French. 'Bonjour' is the essential greeting, with 'Salut' for informal hello. Pronunciation guide + the etiquette of greeting in French.
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Quick answer
To say hello in French, say 'Bonjour' (bohn-ZHOOR) — literally 'good day.' It's the standard, polite greeting used all day until evening, with everyone from strangers to friends. For an informal hello among friends, say 'Salut' (sah-LOO). In the evening, switch to 'Bonsoir' (bohn-SWAHR), meaning 'good evening.'
Bonjour
/bohn-ZHOOR/ — French
How to Say Hello in French
French places great importance on the greeting — and the right one, Bonjour, is among the most essential and beautiful words you can learn.
The Essential Greeting: Bonjour
Bonjour — pronounced bohn-ZHOOR
It literally means “good day” (bon = good, jour = day) and is the polite, all-purpose greeting used throughout the day with everyone.
Copy the Phrase
The French word for hello is Bonjour (bohn-ZHOOR).
Pronunciation Notes
| Part | Pronunciation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bon | bohn | Nasal ‘on’ — the ‘n’ is nasalized, not fully pronounced |
| jour | ZHOOR | ’j’ = soft ‘zh’ (like ‘s’ in “measure”); soft French ‘r’ |
The two tricky French sounds here: the nasal “on” in bon, and the soft “zh” of the j.
All the Ways to Say Hello in French
| French | Pronunciation | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Bonjour | bohn-ZHOOR | Standard, polite, daytime — everyone |
| Bonsoir | bohn-SWAHR | Good evening (from ~6pm) |
| Salut | sah-LOO | Informal hi (friends) — also “bye” |
| Coucou | koo-KOO | Cute, very casual “hey!” |
| Ça va? | sah VAH | How’s it going? (also a greeting) |
| Allô | ah-LOH | Hello (ONLY on the phone) |
Bonjour vs. Salut
This distinction matters in French:
- Bonjour — polite, universal. Use with strangers, shopkeepers, colleagues, elders — anyone. Always safe.
- Salut — casual. Only with friends, family, and peers. Too familiar for strangers or formal settings.
When in doubt, always use Bonjour.
The Bonjour Rule (French Etiquette)
In France, saying Bonjour is essentially mandatory social courtesy:
- Say it when entering a shop or café
- Say it before asking anyone for help
- Say it to start any interaction
Skipping Bonjour and diving straight into a request is considered rude — and tourists who do often get a cool response. A warm Bonjour first opens every door in France.
Daytime vs. Evening
| Time | Greeting |
|---|---|
| Morning–evening | Bonjour (good day) |
| Evening (~6pm+) | Bonsoir (good evening) |
| Going to bed | Bonne nuit (good night) |
Note: French has no separate “good morning” — Bonjour covers morning and afternoon.
Phone Hello
On the telephone, the French say Allô (ah-LOH) — used only for answering the phone, never face to face.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce Bonjour?
'Bonjour' is pronounced bohn-ZHOOR. 'Bon' = bohn (a nasal 'on' sound — the 'n' is barely pronounced, more of a nasalized vowel). 'Jour' = ZHOOR, where 'j' makes a soft 'zh' sound (like the 's' in 'measure'). The 'r' at the end is the soft French guttural r. It's one syllable flowing into the next: bohn-ZHOOR.
What is the difference between Bonjour and Salut?
'Bonjour' is polite and universal — use it with everyone, especially strangers, shopkeepers, colleagues, and anyone you don't know well. 'Salut' (sah-LOO) is casual — only for friends, family, and peers. Using 'Salut' with a stranger or in a formal setting can seem too familiar. When in doubt, always use 'Bonjour.' Note: 'Salut' also means 'bye' informally.
When do you say Bonsoir instead of Bonjour?
Switch from 'Bonjour' (good day) to 'Bonsoir' (good evening, bohn-SWAHR) in the evening — roughly from 6pm onward, or once it gets dark. 'Bonsoir' is used both as a greeting when arriving in the evening and sometimes as a farewell when leaving at night. 'Bonne nuit' (good night) is reserved for going to bed.
Why is saying Bonjour so important in French culture?
In France, saying 'Bonjour' is a near-mandatory social courtesy. You're expected to say 'Bonjour' when entering a shop, approaching someone for help, or starting any interaction — skipping it is considered rude. Tourists who launch straight into a question without 'Bonjour' often get a cooler reception. A polite 'Bonjour' first opens every door in France.
How do you say hi to friends in French?
Informal greetings among friends: 'Salut!' (hi/bye), 'Coucou!' (a cute, very casual 'hey there!' especially among close friends and family), 'Ça va?' (how's it going? — also used as a greeting), 'Quoi de neuf?' (what's new?). 'Salut, ça va?' is a friendly all-purpose opener between people who know each other.