Are you tired of saying “Bonjour?” Don’t worry; you’ve come to the right place. If you’re a French learner looking to speak more naturally with your French friends or when you visit France, maybe you’re a business person looking to connect with your French business associates. We’ve got you covered. Here we list the top ten useful French greetings that you can say instead of just the boring old “Bonjour.”
Table of Contents:
- Why is it important to know how to say hello in French?
- The Top Ten French Greetings
- Conclusion
Why is it important to know how to say hello in French?
Politeness is a part of the French language and culture, but sometimes people will argue that things are changing. Even if you’re not a master of the French language, a few words practiced in French can go a long way. With that in mind, you want to complement your greetings with French gastronomy to strengthen your conversational and communication skills.
Next time you visit any country, try to greet the locals in their language, and you’ll see a very positive response from their side.
The Top Ten French Greetings
Everyone wants to learn new languages and to make a change from time to time. So, let’s dive into ten greetings in French.
1. Enchanté:
This phrase is a polite way to indicate that you’re delighted to meet someone after they introduce themselves. It is translated as “nice to meet you.” When you say this to a person, it shows that you’re pleased to meet someone.
2. Bonsoir:
“Bonsoir” is used for “Good Evening” in French. It is a pleasant French greeting, similar to Bonjour but reserved for evening situations.
3. Coucou :
It’s a casual phrase and can be used with close friends. Like the ones, you are sure to make because of this new language skill. Coucou means “Hey.”
4. Quoi de Neuf?
It’s translated as “What’s up or what’s new?” It is considered an informal greeting in French. This phrase is an excellent greeting for a friend you haven’t talked to in a while, intending to start a conversation. Using this expression, you are likely to interact more with a person you speak with than with the traditional “bonjour.”
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5. Au revoir:
Au revoir, translated as “Good Bye.” This expression is another go-to standard salutation like bonjour, usable in any situation. Like other greetings in French, it is considered rude not to use this particular expression while leaving a public place.
6. À tout à l’heure:
This French greeting is the perfect thing to use while parting with friends. À tout à l’heure! translated as: “See you soon, see you in a while.” You can also say it when you meet with a person and wish to see them again.
7. Bon après-midi:
Just like Bonsoir, this phrase is also a classic French greeting. “Bon après-midi” means “Good afternoon.” French speakers generally use it when they are saying goodbye, and you can also use it as a welcome greeting in the afternoon after 12 pm.
8. Bonne Nuit:
“Bonne Nuit” used as a “Good Bye” greeting. It means “Good Night.” You can use it with friends, and it’s late at night. Then you can say that now you have to go and, as a goodbye gesture, you will say Good Night.
9. Salut :
A common and easy way to greet someone while meeting is to say hi. It’s a great greeting to use with anyone you know, as it’s an informal greeting. Please note that the phrase’s main thing, “t,” at the end is silent.
10. Allô?
This greeting is solely used on the phone to determine whether someone on the phone is on the line or not. “Allô” translated as a simple “hello.” A phrase can also be used to gain someone’s attention if they haven’t heard of you. It’s one of the greeting types, but not a proper greeting like others.
Conclusion:
We hope that this article taught you not only French greetings but also the fundamentals of polite French culture and French cultural appreciation. Now you’re equipped with all these greeting tools in French, so there’s no doubt you will create a great impression with people next time you meet French people.
