Bonjour / Hello

French has different greetings depending on the time of day and level of formality. Choosing the right greeting shows
respect and helps you make a good first impression.

French	IPA	English	When to Use
Bonjour	[bɔ̃.ʒuʁ]	Hello / Good day	Anytime during the day (formal + informal)
Salut	[sa.ly]	Hi / Hey	Informal, with friends and family
Bonsoir	[bɔ̃.swaʁ]	Good evening	After ~6 PM (formal + informal)
Bonne nuit	[bɔn nɥi]	Good night	Only when going to bed (not a greeting!)
Coucou	[ku.ku]	Hey there	Very informal, close friends/kids

Usage Notes

Bonjour is the most important greeting. In France, it’s considered rude to start a conversation
without saying bonjour first — even when asking for directions or ordering at a café.

Salut is for friends, family, and people your age. It can also mean “bye” in casual contexts.

Bonsoir replaces bonjour after ~6 PM. Works in both formal and informal situations.

Bonne nuit is not a greeting — only say it when someone is going to bed.

Adding Names and Titles

It’s polite to add a title or name after your greeting:

French	IPA	English
Bonjour, Monsieur	[bɔ̃.ʒuʁ mə.sjø]	Hello, Sir
Bonjour, Madame	[bɔ̃.ʒuʁ ma.dam]	Hello, Ma’am
Bonjour, Marie	[bɔ̃.ʒuʁ ma.ʁi]	Hello, Marie
Salut, Pierre!	[sa.ly pjɛʁ]	Hi, Pierre!

Tip: Mademoiselle (Miss) is rarely used now. Use Madame for all adult women.

Common Mistakes

❌ Wrong	✓ Correct	Why
Using bonne nuit as a greeting	Bonsoir	Bonne nuit = going to bed only
Salut, Monsieur	Bonjour, Monsieur	Salut is too casual with titles
Skipping bonjour when entering a shop	Bonjour! then ask question	Always greet first in France
Bon matin	Bonjour	“Bon matin” is not used in France

Practice Sentences

1. Bonjour, comment allez-vous?
   [bɔ̃.ʒuʁ kɔ.mɑ̃ ta.le vu]
   Hello, how are you? (formal)
2. Salut, ça va?
   [sa.ly sa va]
   Hi, how’s it going? (informal)
3. Bonsoir, Madame. Une table pour deux, s’il vous plaît.
   [bɔ̃.swaʁ ma.dam yn tabl puʁ dø sil vu plɛ]
   Good evening, Ma’am. A table for two, please.
4. Bonjour, je voudrais un café.
   [bɔ̃.ʒuʁ ʒə vu.dʁɛ œ̃ ka.fe]
   Hello, I would like a coffee.
5. Bonne nuit, à demain!
   [bɔn nɥi a də.mɛ̃]
   Good night, see you tomorrow!
6. Bonjour, Monsieur. Excusez-moi…
   [bɔ̃.ʒuʁ mə.sjø ɛk.sky.ze mwa]
   Hello, Sir. Excuse me…

Exercise: Choose the Right Greeting

Select the best greeting for each situation:

1. You enter a bakery at 10 AM. → _______
2. You meet your best friend at a café. → _______
3. You arrive at a dinner party at 8 PM. → _______
4. Your child is going to bed. → _______
5. You greet your boss in the morning. → _______

Answers

1. Bonjour [bɔ̃.ʒuʁ] — formal daytime greeting
2. Salut [sa.ly] — informal greeting for friends
3. Bonsoir [bɔ̃.swaʁ] — evening greeting
4. Bonne nuit [bɔn nɥi] — before bed
5. Bonjour [bɔ̃.ʒuʁ] — formal with boss