In France, a greeting is not a formality you can skip — it is the doorway to every interaction. Walk into a shop without a bonjour and you may get a frosty reception; offer one warmly and doors open. Here is how to say hello and goodbye like someone who belongs.
Bonjour: the most important word you will learn
Bonjour ("good day") works from morning until early evening, after which you switch to bonsoir ("good evening"). Say it when you enter a shop, approach a counter, or start almost any conversation. In French culture, greeting first is simply expected — it signals respect.
Hello, from formal to friendly
- Bonjour / Bonsoir — the safe, polite default.
- Salut — casual "hi," only with friends and peers (never a stranger or your boss).
- Coucou — very affectionate, for close friends and family.
- Enchanté(e) — "pleased to meet you," when introduced for the first time.
"How are you?" — and which version to use
- Formal: Comment allez-vous ?
- Informal: Comment ça va ? or just Ça va ?
A friendly reply: Ça va bien, merci, et vous ? / et toi ? The vous / toi choice mirrors the same formality logic as tu and vous.
La bise: the cheek kiss
Among friends and family, the French often greet with la bise — light kisses on alternating cheeks. The number varies by region (usually two). As a learner you are never obliged to do it; a handshake or a warm bonjour is perfectly acceptable, especially in professional settings.
Saying goodbye
- Au revoir — the standard "goodbye."
- À bientôt — "see you soon."
- À demain — "see you tomorrow."
- Bonne journée / Bonne soirée — "have a good day / evening," lovely to add as you leave.
- Salut — doubles as a casual "bye" among friends.
The one habit that matters most
If you remember nothing else: always greet before you ask. "Bonjour, je cherche…" lands far better than diving straight into a question. It is the single easiest way to come across as polite in French.
Greetings set the tone for everything that follows — including ordering at a café, which we cover in how to order like a local. For pocket-ready phrases to take with you, see our French phrase books.