French greetings vary widely with the time of the day, your relationship with the person, and context. When we meet someone, the first thing we have to do is greet them. Greetings change depending on the time, situation, and person. After 5 or 6 pm, we can greet someone as in “Good Evening.” In this article, we discussed why we use the good evening phrase when to use it, and ten different ways of saying “good evening” in French, helping one to expand their knowledge.
Table of Contents:
1. Why do we say “Good Evening”?
2. The top ten French ways to say “good evening.”
3. Conclusion
Why do we say “Good Evening”?
“Good evening” is a greeting usually used around 5 to 6 pm in the evening. It is similar to other greetings like “good morning” or “good night.” We greet people because it’s a good gesture when meeting new people.
When welcoming guests to a party or someone you meet in the evening, or if they come in the evening, you greet them with the salutation “Good Evening.” It’s a simple way of saying “hello” when one meets with a person or an individual passing by. As a good gesture, you pass a greeting to them. Generally, when you’re leaving a place in the evening, you will want to depart and thank them by saying, “Have a good evening.”
Top Ten Ways to Say Good Evening in French
Saying “Good evening” in French is tricky. Many expressions are used in the context of “good evening” and could seem to mean it even though they are all used during night greetings. Below, we’ve listed ten different “good evening” phrases in French with their meanings.
1. Bonsoir:
Bonsoir is the most common French word used for “good evening.” This phrase is composed of two words: “bon,” meaning “good,” and “soir,” meaning evening. We can use this phrase when we enter a restaurant or at any gathering in the evening. Also, when we host a party, and a guest arrives in the evening, we welcome them by saying “Bonsoir.” Moreover, used as a starter for a conversation among people.
2. Bonsoir messieurs et dames:
It means “Good Evening, Ladies and Gentlemen.” This phrase is used when addressing a group of people of different genders. You can also use it if you’re the one who hosts the gathering or meeting and you start the conversation with them—addressing people by saying “Bonsoir messieurs et dames” and grabbing their attention towards yourself.
3. Bonne soirée
“Bonne soirée” is translated as “Have a good evening.” Somehow similar to Bonsoir because “bonne” is the feminine form of “bon” (good) and soirée is the feminine form of “soir” (evening). We use this phrase while leaving a place and wishing other people a nice evening.
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4. Bonne soirée, on se voit demain:
This term translated as “Have a good evening.” I’ll see you tomorrow. You can use this phrase when you’re leaving and hope to see that person again tomorrow.
5. J’espère que tu passes une bonne soirée.
This phrase is also related to a “Good Evening” greeting, used when you’re leaving and want to give someone a piece of sweet hope. You can say, “I hope you have a good evening.”
6. Comment ça va
Comment ça va, translated as “How are you?” This phrase also used as a greeting phrase in the evening. When meeting, you can ask the other person if you can use this phrase directly on its own or together with another greeting. For example, you can say “Comment ça va” (How are you?) or “Bonsoir Comment ça va?” (How are you doing? ).
7. À ce soir:
À ce soir, a phrase translated as “see you tonight.” This phrase can used as an evening greeting. When you’re leaving a friend’s house for a short time and have a plan with them that night, you can say, “see you tonight.”
8. À la prochaine
It means “until next time.” This phrase usually used when you say goodbye to a person and wish to meet again. Then you use the phrase “à la prochaine.” That means goodbye until we meet next time.
9. Salut :
Salut means “Goodbye.”Count as an informal phrase and can be used with friends or family. It also used as a goodbye phrase when you’re leaving in the evening.
10. Très heureux
This phrase translated as “Nice to meet you.” It’s a common phrase used at any time, not bound to specific circumstances. You can say it after meeting someone and complimenting them. That means a lot to them in a good gesture.
Conclusion:
So, there you have it then, ten good evening phrases. Try them out in conversation, and practice them. Even as you progress on your French learning journey, you’ll find yourself using these go-to phrases repeatedly in daily conversation with people.
Bon apprentissage! (Happy learning!)
