French Greetings Vocabulary: Essential Words & Phrases
Mastering French vocabulary greetings is one of the most important first steps in learning the language. Whether you're planning a trip to Paris or simply want to communicate with French speakers, knowing how to greet people properly will make a lasting impression. This guide covers essential French words for greetings that every learner needs to know.
Essential Greetings Vocabulary
This French greetings vocabulary list contains the core words you'll use daily. These fundamental greetings form the foundation of polite conversation in French-speaking countries.
| Word | Pronunciation | English | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonjour | bohn-ZHOOR | Hello / Good day | Bonjour, comment allez-vous? |
| Bonsoir | bohn-SWAHR | Good evening | Bonsoir, madame. |
| Salut | sah-LU | Hi / Bye (informal) | Salut, ça va? |
| Coucou | koo-KOO | Hey there (very informal) | Coucou! Tu es là? |
| Au revoir | oh ruh-VWAHR | Goodbye | Au revoir et bonne journée! |
| À bientôt | ah byaN-TOH | See you soon | À bientôt, mon ami! |
| À demain | ah duh-MAN | See you tomorrow | À demain au bureau. |
| Bonne nuit | bun NWEE | Good night | Bonne nuit, fais de beaux rêves. |
| Bienvenue | byaN-vuh-NU | Welcome | Bienvenue en France! |
| Enchanté(e) | ahn-shahn-TAY | Nice to meet you | Enchanté de faire votre connaissance. |
| Comment allez-vous? | koh-mahn tah-lay VOO | How are you? (formal) | Comment allez-vous aujourd'hui? |
| Ça va? | sah VAH | How's it going? (informal) | Ça va? Tu as passé un bon weekend? |
| Très bien | treh BYAN | Very well | Je vais très bien, merci. |
| Pas mal | pah MAHL | Not bad | Pas mal, et toi? |
| Comme ci, comme ça | kum SEE kum SAH | So-so | Comme ci, comme ça, j'ai beaucoup de travail. |
| Merci | mehr-SEE | Thank you | Merci beaucoup pour votre aide. |
| De rien | duh RYAN | You're welcome | De rien, c'est normal. |
Common Phrases
When you learn French greetings, it's important to go beyond single words. These phrases will help you navigate real conversations with confidence.
- Ravi(e) de vous rencontrer (rah-VEE duh voo rahn-kohn-TRAY) — Pleased to meet you (formal)
- Comment tu t'appelles? (koh-mahn tu tah-PEL) — What's your name? (informal)
- Comment vous appelez-vous? (koh-mahn vooz ah-play VOO) — What's your name? (formal)
- Je m'appelle... (zhuh mah-PEL) — My name is...
- Quoi de neuf? (kwah duh NUF) — What's new?
- Ça fait longtemps! (sah feh lohn-TAHN) — It's been a long time!
- Bonne journée! (bun zhoor-NAY) — Have a good day!
- Bonne soirée! (bun swah-RAY) — Have a good evening!
- À tout à l'heure (ah too tah LUR) — See you later (same day)
- À la prochaine (ah lah proh-SHEN) — Until next time
Usage Notes
This French lesson greetings section covers essential cultural and grammatical points that will help you use these words appropriately.
- Formal vs. Informal: French distinguishes between formal (vous) and informal (tu) address. Use vous with strangers, elders, and in professional settings. Reserve tu for friends, family, and people your age in casual situations.
- Time-sensitive greetings: Use bonjour from morning until early evening (around 6 PM), then switch to bonsoir. Using the wrong one isn't a serious mistake, but it sounds more natural to match the time of day.
- La bise: In France, greetings often include la bise — light kisses on the cheeks. The number varies by region (two to four). Among friends and family, this is expected; in professional settings, a handshake is more common.
- Always greet first: When entering a shop, restaurant, or any establishment, always say bonjour before asking for anything. This is considered essential politeness in French culture.
- Enchanté agreement: Add an e at the end (enchantée) if you're a woman. The pronunciation remains the same, but it matters in writing.
- Responding to "Ça va?": You can simply answer Ça va (I'm fine) or Ça va bien (I'm doing well). It's also common to immediately ask back: Ça va, et toi?
Practice Sentences
Put your French vocabulary greetings into practice with these example sentences. Try reading them aloud to improve your pronunciation.
- Bonjour! Je m'appelle Marie. Comment vous appelez-vous? — Hello! My name is Marie. What's your name?
- Salut Thomas! Ça va? Quoi de neuf? — Hi Thomas! How are you? What's new?
- Bonsoir madame. Enchanté de faire votre connaissance. — Good evening, madam. Pleased to make your acquaintance.
- Ça fait longtemps! Comment vas-tu? — It's been so long! How are you doing?
- Je vais très bien, merci. Et vous, comment allez-vous? — I'm doing very well, thank you. And you, how are you?
- Au revoir et bonne soirée! À bientôt! — Goodbye and have a good evening! See you soon!
- Coucou! Tu es prêt? On y va! — Hey! Are you ready? Let's go!
- Bonne nuit, les enfants. À demain matin. — Good night, children. See you tomorrow morning.
- Bienvenue chez nous! Entrez, je vous en prie. — Welcome to our home! Please come in.
- Pas mal, comme ci comme ça. J'ai eu une longue journée. — Not bad, so-so. I've had a long day.