Just like in many other countries, greeting people while meeting at different times is customary and traditional. Whether you meet someone in the morning, afternoon, or evening, greeting them to start a conversation politely is considered part of French culture. The French people are very respectful and polite and find it rude not to start a conversation with a traditional greeting. So, in this article, we’ll discuss different phrases used for “good afternoon” in French.
Table of Contents:
- The Most Common French Salutation
- The Top Ten Ways to Say Good Afternoon in French
- Conclusion
The most common French salutation:
“Bonjour” is considered the most common greeting in the afternoon, as it translates as “good day.” The most extraordinary thing about “Bonjour” is its universal greeting. Whether you go to a restaurant or café, or meet someone on the street, the French people will greet you and meet you by using this phrase if it’s not too dark outside. This means you can quickly and safely use it in all social contexts and interactions without hesitation. Bonjour is also one way of saying good afternoon in French. When you meet someone after 12 pm, you can greet them with “bonjour.”
Top Ten French Expressions for “Good Afternoon”
In France, you start every conversation with a greeting in a respectful and polite way. Brush up on these ten ways to say “Good Afternoon” in French.
1. Bonne après-midi:
If you meet with French people after morning coffee or brunch, you can say “bonne après-midi.” While it translates as “good afternoon.” Remember, you can only use it from 12 pm onwards up till 6 pm. The French people typically use it when they’re out with friends during the day. It’s like a goodbye gesture phrase but only used during the day.
2. Au revoir:
This phrase is a formal goodbye to how Bonjour is used to say hi. It is one of the most common words used by local French people. This phrase can also be used as a goodbye in the afternoon. When going out of a coffee shop or leaving a class during the day, you can say “Au revoir” in a friendly tone.
3. Ça va:
Another standard French greeting is Ça va, which means “How are you?” It is also considered a “Good Afternoon” greeting in French. So, after you say Good Afternoon to a French person, you can say Ça va “How are you?” This phrase is the most commonly used French greeting in France among French people. You can also ask “Comment Ça va” which means “How are you doing?” Feel free to use both phrases in daily conversation and as a “Good Afternoon” greeting.
4. À bientôt:
Another excellent way to greet someone is “À bientôt.” If you know, you’ll see that person in a few hours. You can say “bientôt,” which means “see you soon.” This phrase is also used during the day as an afternoon greeting. If you plan to meet someone in the afternoon, you can say, “See you soon.”
5. Mesdames et messieurs, bonne après-midi:
If you want to address a group of people at a party or a seminar, Mesdames et messieurs, bonne après-midi is the best way to do it in this case. This phrase is used as a Good Afternoon phrase in French. It translates as “Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.”
6. Ça roule
“Ça roule,” translated as “How’s it going?” or “How are things?” You can use this phrase to start a friendly conversation after saying “bonne après-midi” to a person, then ask about how things are and all that other stuff.
7. Salut:
It is a commonly used phrase but a little more informal. Salut is also known as the “cool kid of Bonjour.” As it’s an informal phrase, you cannot use it with your teacher, boss, or other unknown people. But you can use it with your friends and family by combining it with the Good Afternoon phrase. You can say it as “Salut, bonne après-midi,” which means “Hi, Good Afternoon.”
8. à demain:
If you have a specific time or date arranged to meet up, you can say “à demain,” which means “until tomorrow,” or whatever the date is, you can mention it. This is useful for people who meet daily or if you have just arranged a date and time with someone. Also used as an afternoon phrase greeting when meeting at noon.
9. Bonne fête:
This phrase is quite common for wishing someone a great weekend. Bonne fête translates as “happy weekend.” If you’re leaving a workplace or taking leave from school and it’s a public holiday or weekend ahead, you can wish your colleagues or friends a happy weekend.
10. “Au Plaisir”
An informal phrase used for goodbye or a farewell. Au Plaisir means “until we meet again.” This phrase can also be combined with the Good Afternoon greeting. You can say an informal goodbye to your friend, “Good afternoon until we meet again.”
Conclusion:
Keep your language learning process going, and check out our articles on how to say Good Morning, Good Evening, or Welcome in French. Do Experiment with various French phrases. In a short time, you will be fluent in the French language.
FAQs:
How do French people greet in the afternoon?
French people typically greet in the afternoon with “Bon après-midi” or simply say “Bonjour,” which is used throughout the day until evening.
How can we say good afternoon in different ways?
You can say good afternoon in French with “Bon après-midi” or more informally with “Salut” if you are greeting friends or peers in the afternoon.
What is the French word for good afternoon?
The French phrase for good afternoon is “Bon après-midi.”
How do you say good evening in French?
Good evening in French is “Bonsoir.”
How do you say good afternoon, sir, in French?
Good afternoon, sir in French is “Bon après-midi, monsieur.”
How do you say good night in French?
Good night in French is “Bonne nuit.”
How is Good Afternoon discussed on French Reddit?
On French Reddit, people might discuss different informal and formal ways to say good afternoon, share cultural insights, and provide context-specific greetings like “Bon après-midi.”
How do you say how are you in French?
How are you in French is “Comment ça va?” or more formally, “Comment allez-vous?”
How do you say good day in French?
The good day in French is “Bonne journée.”
How do you say bon après-midi in French?
“Bon après-midi” directly translates to good afternoon in French.
What are some common French greetings?
Common French greetings include “Bonjour” (Hello/Good day), “Bonsoir” (Good evening), “Salut” (Hi), and “Coucou” (Hey).
How do you say hello in French?
Hello in French is “Bonjour.”
What are the different ways to say hello in French?
Different ways to say hello in French include “Bonjour,” “Salut,” “Coucou,” and “Allô” (used on the phone).
What are some polite French greetings?
Polite French greetings include “Bonjour,” “Bonsoir,” “Enchanté(e)” (Nice to meet you), and “Comment allez-vous?” (How are you? – formal).
What are the cultural differences in French greetings?
In French culture, greetings often include a handshake or kisses on the cheeks (la base) depending on the familiarity between individuals. Formality is important, so using titles like “Monsieur” and “Madame” is common in more formal settings.
