When you visit France, you will probably hear or see the French word for “welcome” as “Bienvenue.” But you must remember that in French, you don’t use the same words for “welcome” and “you’re welcome.” Both these words have different phrases for saying welcome in French. So, when you’re saying welcome in French, you can’t say “de rien” as it means “you’re welcome.” In Canada, you can use “Bienvenue” instead of “you’re welcome,” but not in front of French people. If you want to be able to understand and learn the different welcome words and phrases, read the article. We will show you different expressions with their meanings.
Top Ten Ways to Say “Welcome” in French:
Let’s dive deep into these common ways to say welcome in French.
1. Bienvenue:
The simplest way to welcome someone in French is to say “Bienvenue.” This word can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Moreover, you don’t need to be confused by the number of people or gender difference while saying it. Whether talking to one person, a group, or at school or work, you can always say “Bienvenue” as a welcome phrase, and it will always be correct.
2. Sois le Bienvenu:
A slightly formal way to welcome someone in French is to say “Sois le Bienvenu.” It means “Please be welcome.” This word can only be used in a formal state. For example, when you invite people you don’t know well or meet for the first time, you can say, “Please be welcome.”
3. Souhaiter la bienvenue à quelqu’un:
If you want to welcome someone in a more formal way, such as at work or a senior, you can use this long phrase as it means “to bid someone welcome.”
This phrase consists of a subject + an object + the appropriately conjugated form of the verb souhaiter + la Bienvenue. For example, it can be used as: “Je te souhaites la Bienvenue,” translated as “I bid you welcome.”
4. Bienvenue à, au, à la, aux, chez, en:
The word “Bienvenue” used with a preposition that includes “à, au, à la, aux” (meaning to or at), “chez” (to the home of). Take a look at some examples:
Bienvenue en France: Welcome to France
Bienvenue chez moi: Welcome to my home.
5. Tu es le bienvenue or Tu es la bienvenue:
To express your gratitude as “you’re welcome” in French, you can say “Tu es le Bienvenue.” Bienvenue is an adjective, so it must agree with the number of people and gender difference. For example, to welcome your male guests, you would say, “Tu es le Bienvenue.” You would say, “Tu es la Bienvenue for a female guest.”
And for the group of people, males and females together, you can say “Vous êtes les bienvenus.“
6. Accueillir:
In French, accueillir means “to welcome.” Accueillir always used with a sentence or as part of the sentence, not as a single word to say welcome in French. Unlike Bienvenue, Accueillir, and its noun form, Accueil can’t be used on its own to say Welcome. For example, “Elle nous a acceuilli les larmes aux yeux” translated as “She welcomed us with tears of joy in her eyes.”
7. Faire se sentir quelqu’un le bienvenu (e)
This expression can be translated into both meanings: “to make somebody feel welcome” or “to make somebody feel at home.” And it differs between males and females, as for males, “le” would be used, and for female expressions, “Faire se sentir quelqu’un la Bienvenue.”
8. Recevoir quelqu’un:
Recevoir quelqu’un means “welcome somebody” but translated literally into the meaning of “to receive somebody.”
9. Fais comme chez toi / faites comme chez vous:
“Faites comme chez vous” translates to “make yourself at home.” This phrase used when you’re welcoming guests into their homes, and you say this phrase in a way to make them feel comfortable.
10. Install toi:
This is an informal phrase. “Install toi” is a word where the exact “welcome” word is not there. But the meaning is the same when you say welcome in French. It means making yourself comfortable or settling yourself. You would say it when you invite people over to your home. And want to make them feel comfortable as they’re in their homes.
Conclusion:
As you’ve explored, there are many ways to welcome someone in French, from the simple “bienvenue” to more nuanced expressions. Choosing the right phrase depends on the formality of the situation and the level of warmth you want to convey. With a little practice, you’ll be greeting your French-speaking guests with confidence in no time. We hope that now you know how to say you’re welcome in French language.
