This French 1 lesson explains French greetings step by step, with examples in French and English. Then practise with the worksheet on French greetings and check yourself with the quiz.
Quick answer: French greetings change with the time of day and the relationship: bonjour by day, bonsoir at night, salut with friends, au revoir to leave. Use tu with friends and family, vous with adults you do not know. Introduce yourself with je m’appelle or moi, c’est, and spell names with French letter names.
Level: French 1 (high school, ACTFL Novice) · Standards: ACTFL Novice Mid, WL 1.1 Interpersonal, WL 1.2 Interpretive, WL 1.3 Presentational, WL 2.1 Cultural Practices
French greetings: the lesson
How do you say hello and goodbye in French?
French greetings depend on the time of day and on how well you know the person. The word bonjour works from morning until early evening, while bonsoir takes over once it gets dark.
| French | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| Bonjour | Hello, good day | Anyone, daytime |
| Bonsoir | Good evening | Anyone, after dark |
| Salut | Hi / bye | Friends only |
| Au revoir | Goodbye | Any situation |
| À demain | See you tomorrow | Classmates, coworkers |
| Bonne nuit | Good night | Only before sleep |
Should you say tu or vous?
Rule: tu or vous
Say tu to friends, classmates, relatives and children. Say vous to teachers, shopkeepers, and adults you meet for the first time. Vous is also the plural: it addresses two or more people.
How do you introduce yourself and ask how someone is?
Meeting someone
- Comment tu t’appelles ? — What’s your name? (informal)
- Comment vous appelez-vous ? — What’s your name? (formal)
- Je m’appelle Awa. / Moi, c’est Awa. — My name is Awa.
- Enchanté (boy) / Enchantée (girl) — Nice to meet you.
- Ça va ? — Ça va bien, merci. Et toi ? — How are you? Fine, thanks. And you?
- Comme ci, comme ça. / Pas mal. — So-so. / Not bad.
Common mistake
American students often walk up and ask a question straight away, such as Excusez-moi, où est la gare ? In France this sounds abrupt. Open with Bonjour, Monsieur or Bonjour, Madame first.
How do you spell a name and use accents?
French letter names do not sound like English ones: G is « zhay », J is « zhee », and W is « doo-bluh-vay ». To ask for a spelling, say Comment ça s’écrit ? — How is that spelled?
| Mark | Name | Example |
|---|---|---|
| é | accent aigu (acute) | élève — student |
| è, à | accent grave | très — very |
| ê | accent circonflexe | fête — party |
| ë | tréma (diaeresis) | Noël — Christmas |
| ç | cédille | ça — that |
What phrases do you hear in a French classroom?
- Écoutez. — Listen. Répétez. — Repeat.
- Ouvrez votre livre. — Open your book. Levez la main. — Raise your hand.
- Je ne comprends pas. — I don’t understand.
- Qu’est-ce que ça veut dire ? — What does that mean?
La bise
Friends and relatives in France often greet each other with la bise, light cheek kisses. The number of kisses varies by region, and teenagers meeting an adult for the first time usually shake hands instead.
Zoé’s tip
Make bonjour a reflex. Say it when you enter a shop, a classroom or an elevator, and people will answer warmly.
Key points to remember
- Bonjour is used from morning to early evening; bonsoir once it gets dark.
- Tu is for friends, family and peers; vous is for respect and for groups.
- Je m’appelle … and Moi, c’est … both mean “My name is …”.
- Five marks change French letters: é, è, ê, ë and ç.
- Always say bonjour before asking a stranger a question.
Saying Hello, Introducing Yourself and Spelling Names: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between bonjour and salut?
Bonjour is polite and works with everybody during the day. Salut is casual and means both hi and bye, so keep it for friends and classmates.
When do I use tu instead of vous?
Use tu with friends, relatives, children and classmates. Use vous with teachers, adult strangers and customers, and whenever you speak to more than one person.
How do I say my name in French?
Say Je m’appelle followed by your name, or the shorter Moi, c’est followed by your name. Literally, je m’appelle means I call myself.
How do I ask someone to spell a word?
Ask Comment ça s’écrit ? Then listen for the French letter names. Zoé suggests writing each letter down as you hear it.
Do accents change how a French word is pronounced?
Yes. É sounds like the ay in say, è sounds like the e in bed, and ç gives a soft s sound. Accents also separate words such as a (has) and à (to).