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French · Meeting people · Beginner

How to say hello and goodbye in French

Say “Bonjour” (or “Bonsoir” in the evening) when you walk into a shop or meet a neighbour, often with madame or monsieur. Keep “Salut” for friends and colleagues on tu terms. On the way out, say “Merci, au revoir” or “Bonne journée”, and answer “Vous aussi”.

Try it · about two minutes

Through the day you greet shopkeepers, neighbours and colleagues, and say goodbye the right way.

Sound on: the shopkeeper, neighbour, colleague speaks French. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

The conversation

  1. Morning. You walk into a small bakery, and the baker looks up.

    You

    Bonjour, madame.

    Hello, madam.

  2. Shopkeeper, neighbour, colleague

    Je vous sers ?

    What can I get you?

    You

    Une baguette, s'il vous plaît.

    A baguette, please.

  3. Shopkeeper, neighbour, colleague

    Bonne journée à vous !

    Have a nice day.

    You

    Merci, au revoir.

    Thanks, goodbye.

  4. Shopkeeper, neighbour, colleague

    Ça fait longtemps ! Comment allez-vous ?

    It’s been a while. How are you?

    You

    Ça va très bien, merci.

    I’m very well, thank you.

  5. Shopkeeper, neighbour, colleague

    Salut, ça va ?

    Hi, how are you?

    You

    Salut ! Ça va, et toi ?

    Hi. Fine, and you?

  6. Shopkeeper, neighbour, colleague

    Allez, bonne soirée !

    Right, have a good evening.

    You

    Merci, bonne soirée !

    Thanks, have a good evening.

Key phrases

  • Bonjour, madame.

    Hello, madam.

  • Salut, ça va ?

    Hi, how are you?

  • Ça fait longtemps ! Comment allez-vous ?

    It’s been a while. How are you?

  • Ça va très bien, merci.

    I’m very well, thank you.

  • Pas mal, merci.

    Not bad, thanks.

  • Ça va bien, merci. Et vous ?

    I’m fine, thanks. And you?

  • C'est un plaisir de faire votre connaissance.

    It’s a pleasure to meet you.

  • Bonne journée à vous !

    Have a nice day.

  • Merci, au revoir.

    Thanks, goodbye.

  • À très bientôt !

    See you very soon.

Good to know in France

The golden rule

  1. 1

    Say “Bonjour” as you walk in: to the shopkeeper, the bus driver, the receptionist.

  2. 2

    Say “Merci, au revoir” as you leave, often with a wish for the day.

    Thanks, goodbye.
  3. 3

    In the evening, switch to “Bonsoir”, and to “Bonne soirée” as you leave.

Bonjour, not salut

Shops, neighbours

Bonjour, madame.

Hello, madam.

Friends only

Salut, ça va ?

Hi, how are you?

Salut is for friends and colleagues on tu terms. With shopkeepers, neighbours and anyone you don’t know, it’s bonjour, often with madame or monsieur.

La bise

Friends, and in some workplaces colleagues, greet each other with kisses on the cheek (la bise); how many depends on the region. A handshake is the safe start.

More situations in French

All situations in French

Keep these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.