French greetings are never just polite filler. In daily life, they are the small key that unlocks a shopkeeper’s smile, a neighbour’s nod, or a smooth interaction at the mairie. You don’t need a vast vocabulary to sound natural—just a compact, well-chosen set of phrases that match the rhythm of French social life. Once you grasp that a greeting is part of the message itself, not a preface to it, you’ll move through bakeries, cafés, apartment stairwells and market stalls with a completely different ease. The phrases below are the ones I rely on every day in my stone village in the Drôme, and they work just as well in Lyon or Lille.
Why greetings matter in France
In France, saying hello before you ask for anything is rarely optional. It signals that you see the other person, that you acknowledge the shared space, and that you’re willing to follow the local social script. Walk into a boulangerie and launch straight into “Je voudrais une baguette” without a bonjour, and you’ll likely be met with a pause—or a pointedly repeated bonjour from the baker. The same logic holds in a pharmacy, a mairie, or when you pass a neighbour in the hall of an old apartment building.
For newcomers, the biggest shift is understanding that the greeting isn’t a warm-up; it’s the first and most important part of the exchange. Skipping it can feel abrupt, even rude, no matter how politely you phrase your request. In smaller towns and villages, where daily life still runs on face-to-face contact, a missed bonjour can mark you as an outsider faster than any accent. The good news is that once you adopt this tiny ritual, doors open more readily—and you’ll notice how much smoother everyday errands become.
The core greetings you actually need
If you’re building a survival kit, start with these. They cover almost every ordinary situation, from morning errands to evening farewells.
| French phrase | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Bonjour | Hello / Good day | The default greeting from morning until late afternoon. In the south, you might hear it well into the early evening; in Paris, it tends to fade after 18h. Use it with everyone you don’t know well. |
| Bonsoir | Good evening | The evening shift. Once daylight fades or the working day clearly ends, bonsoir takes over. It’s the natural greeting when you arrive at a dinner, enter a restaurant after dark, or meet someone in the street under streetlamps. |
| Salut | Hi / Bye | Informal and friendly. Reserved for friends, family, classmates, and people you’re on familiar terms with. It works both for hello and goodbye, which makes it handy in casual chats. |
| Au revoir | Goodbye | The neutral, safe farewell. You can use it in almost any context, formal or informal, and it never feels out of place. |
| À bientôt | See you soon | When you expect to cross paths again soon—neighbours, regular shopkeepers, colleagues. |
| À demain | See you tomorrow | Only when you know you’ll meet the next day. Common in workplaces, language classes, or with the baker you visit every morning. |
| Bonne journée | Have a good day | The standard daytime closing. Use it when you leave a shop, end a morning conversation, or say goodbye before the evening sets in. |
| Bonne soirée | Have a good evening | The evening counterpart. Perfect when leaving a restaurant, a friend’s house after dinner, or any encounter after dusk. |
| Bonne nuit | Good night | Strictly for bedtime. Say it only when someone is heading off to sleep—never as a general evening goodbye. |
| Merci | Thank you | Essential everywhere, all the time. It’s the oil that keeps daily exchanges running smoothly. |
| S’il vous plaît | Please | The polite request marker for formal or neutral situations. Use it whenever you ask for something from a stranger or in a service setting. |
Bonjour, bonsoir, salut: how to choose the right one
Bonjour
Bonjour is your safest, most versatile tool. It works in shops, offices, lifts, waiting rooms, and with anyone you don’t know personally. In a village like mine, it’s the word that punctuates every morning walk: you say it to the postman, the neighbour pruning his roses, the woman sweeping the pavement in front of her house. It’s not about being chatty; it’s about acknowledging presence. In more anonymous city settings, it still does the same quiet work—entering a Parisian boulangerie without a bonjour feels like walking into someone’s home without knocking.
Bonsoir
Switch to bonsoir once the day has clearly tipped into evening. There’s no fixed hour; it’s more about light and context. In winter, you might say bonsoir as early as 17h when darkness falls. In summer, you might still use bonjour at 19h if the sun is high. If you’re unsure, bonsoir late in the day feels more natural than a misplaced bonjour. Restaurants, evening gatherings, and any arrival after sunset all call for bonsoir.
Salut
Salut belongs to the informal sphere. Use it with friends, family, children, and peers you know well. In a language class, students quickly se tutoient and swap salut, but the teacher remains bonjour and vous. The same boundary holds in a rental agency or at the doctor’s: salut would feel overly familiar, almost presumptuous. A practical rule: bonjour with strangers, bonsoir in the evening, salut only when the relationship is already relaxed.
The small phrases that make you sound natural
Beyond the greetings themselves, a handful of courtesy and check-in phrases will carry you through most daily exchanges. They’re short, but they shape how you’re perceived.
Essential courtesy phrases
- Merci beaucoup — Thank you very much. A little extra warmth that never hurts, especially in small shops where the owner remembers regulars.
- De rien — You’re welcome (literally “it’s nothing”). Common in casual settings, though in more formal contexts je vous en prie is safer.
- S’il vous plaît — Please, for formal or neutral situations. Always pair it with a request: “Un café, s’il vous plaît” sounds polite; “Un café” alone can sound like an order.
- S’il te plaît — Please, when speaking to someone you use tu with.
- Excusez-moi — Excuse me. Use it to get attention, to pass someone in a crowded space, or to apologise for a minor inconvenience.
- Pardon — Sorry / excuse me. Slightly more casual than excusez-moi, often used when you bump into someone or need to slip past.
- Je vous en prie — You’re welcome / please go ahead. A graceful, slightly formal reply to thanks, or an invitation to proceed (holding a door, for instance).
Useful daily-life phrases
- Ça va ? — How are you? / How’s it going? More a social reflex than a genuine health inquiry. The expected answer is usually ça va.
- Ça va — I’m fine / okay. The standard, neutral reply. You can say it even if you’re having a rough day; it keeps the rhythm going.
- Comment ça va ? — How are things? A slightly more open version, but still often met with ça va.
- Pas mal — Not bad. A relaxed, honest-but-not-too-heavy response.
- Très bien, merci — Very well, thank you. A positive, polite reply that works in most settings.
- Et vous ? — And you? (formal/neutral). The standard way to return the question when using vous.
- Et toi ? — And you? (informal). Use it with friends, family, or anyone you tutoie.
How French small talk works in practice
French small talk often follows a predictable, almost ritualised pattern. A short check-in after the greeting is common, but it rarely turns into a long conversation unless both people want it to. The rhythm is quick, light, and functional.
A typical exchange might go:
- Bonjour.
- Bonjour. Ça va ?
- Très bien, merci. Et vous ?
- Très bien.
This isn’t just a language drill—it’s a social handshake. In a shop, you’ll often greet first, state your request, and then close with merci and a leave-taking phrase. The sequence matters: greeting, transaction, thanks, farewell. Skipping any step can make the interaction feel clipped. In the Drôme, where daily life still has a village pace, this little dance is almost universal; in larger cities, it’s faster but still present. Notice how the ça va question is often reciprocal—it’s a way of briefly acknowledging the other person before moving on to business.
Everyday situations and the right phrase
In a shop
Walk in, catch the shopkeeper’s eye, and say bonjour before anything else. Even if you’re just browsing, the greeting establishes a polite frame. When you’re ready to ask for something, add s’il vous plaît. After paying, a merci and bonne journée seal the exchange. A typical string: Bonjour, je cherche du pain, s’il vous plaît. Merci, bonne journée. In a busy city boulangerie, the rhythm is brisk but the same rules apply; in a quiet village shop, the greeting might be followed by a comment about the weather—a small but meaningful extra.
In a café or restaurant
Start with bonjour (or bonsoir if it’s evening). To order, je voudrais… is the polite go-to; je veux sounds too blunt. When you’re ready to pay, l’addition, s’il vous plaît does the job. A warm merci beaucoup on leaving is always appreciated. Example: Bonjour, je voudrais un café, s’il vous plaît. If you’re at a terrace in Provence, the pace may be leisurely; in a Parisian counter-service café, the exchange is quicker but the courtesy words remain non-negotiable.
In an apartment building
Shared spaces—hallways, lifts, the entrance hall—are where brief greetings earn their keep. A bonjour to the gardienne or a neighbour you pass on the stairs isn’t just nice; it’s expected. In older buildings, where residents often know each other by sight, a silent passage can feel cold. Use bonjour during the day, bonsoir in the evening, and pardon if you need to squeeze past someone. A simple au revoir when you part keeps things smooth. This small habit makes a noticeable difference in how quickly you’re accepted into the building’s daily life.
On the phone
Answer with allô ?—that’s the standard phone opener. Once the conversation starts, switch to bonjour or bonsoir as you would in person. End with au revoir. For example: Allô ? Bonjour, je vous appelle au sujet de l’appartement… The phone doesn’t erase the need for greetings; if anything, the absence of visual cues makes the polite words even more important.
Formal vs informal: the simple logic
French weaves formality into its grammar through the vous/tu distinction, and greetings follow suit. Vous is the default for strangers, older people you don’t know well, and any service or professional interaction. It keeps a respectful distance. Tu is for friends, family, children, and situations where you’ve mutually agreed to drop the formality—often signalled by the phrase on peut se tutoyer.
This affects greetings directly: with vous, you’ll say bonjour, comment allez-vous ?; with tu, salut, ça va ?. Don’t rush to switch. In a rental agency or at the mairie, stick to vous even if the other person is younger. In a village, neighbours may quickly offer tu after a few chats, but let them lead. Using vous until invited to do otherwise is always safer and shows you understand the social code.
What not to do
Common mistakes
- Launching straight into a request without a greeting. Even a simple bonjour before “Je voudrais…” changes the tone entirely.
- Using salut with a receptionist, shop assistant, landlord, or anyone you’d address as vous. It comes across as overly familiar.
- Saying bonne nuit when leaving a restaurant or evening gathering. This is a bedtime-only phrase; using it elsewhere sounds odd.
- Relying on English-style directness—statements without s’il vous plaît or merci can feel brusque.
- Forgetting to say merci after being helped, even for small things. Gratitude is part of the closing ritual.
Easy fixes
- Always begin with bonjour or bonsoir, no exceptions in public or service settings.
- End with merci and a closing phrase (bonne journée, bonne soirée, or au revoir).
- Use vous until the other person clearly invites informality. If they say tu peux me tutoyer, you can switch.
- Keep sentences short and polite. A simple structure—greeting + request + thanks—works almost everywhere.
A practical starter pack for daily life in France
If you want the smallest, most effective set, memorise these ten. They’ll carry you through bakeries, markets, neighbourly chats, and evening goodbyes.
- Bonjour — your all-purpose entry key.
- Bonsoir — the evening handshake.
- Salut — for the people you’re close to.
- Merci — never skip it.
- S’il vous plaît — the softener for any request.
- Excusez-moi — to get attention or apologise lightly.
- Au revoir — the universal goodbye.
- Bonne journée — daytime farewell.
- Bonne soirée — evening farewell.
- Ça va ? — the quick social check-in.
With these ten, you can handle most routine interactions with confidence and avoid the most common cultural stumbles.
Mini cheat sheet: when to say what
| Situation | Best phrase |
|---|---|
| Entering a shop | Bonjour |
| Greeting a friend | Salut |
| Evening arrival | Bonsoir |
| Leaving during the day | Bonne journée |
| Leaving in the evening | Bonne soirée |
| Saying goodbye at night before sleep | Bonne nuit |
| Asking how someone is | Ça va ? |
| Thanking someone | Merci |
| Making a polite request | S’il vous plaît |
| Ending a brief exchange | Au revoir |
A simple daily routine in French
Here’s how these phrases weave through an ordinary day—and how they anchor you in the local rhythm.
- Morning in a bakery: Bonjour
- Talking to a neighbour in the hall: Bonjour
- Messaging a friend: Salut, ça va ?
- Arriving at a dinner gathering: Bonsoir
- Leaving a shop: Merci, bonne journée
- Leaving a restaurant in the evening: Merci, bonne soirée
- Going to bed: Bonne nuit
Notice how the day is punctuated by these small verbal markers. In a village, the morning bonjour to the baker, the postwoman, and the neighbour walking her dog creates a sense of belonging. In a city, the same words keep interactions smooth and impersonal in the best sense—efficient but never rude.
Checklist: your first week in France
- Say bonjour every time you enter a public place—even if you’re just looking.
- Use bonsoir in the evening, especially after dark or when arriving for dinner.
- Reserve salut for people you know well; don’t use it with strangers or in service settings.
- Always add merci after any help, purchase, or small favour.
- Use vous until informality is clearly established—let the other person invite tu.
- Close daytime interactions with bonne journée.
- Close evening interactions with bonne soirée.
- Save bonne nuit for bedtime only.
- Never skip the greeting before asking a question.
- Keep it simple: politeness beats complexity every time.
FAQ
Is bonjour used all day?
Yes, bonjour is the standard daytime greeting and works from early morning until late afternoon. In many regions, it’s used well into the early evening, especially in summer. If you’re unsure, watch for cues: when shopkeepers or neighbours start saying bonsoir, it’s time to switch.
Can I use salut with everyone?
No. Salut is informal and best kept for friends, family, classmates, and people you already know well. Using it with a stranger, a shop assistant, or a landlord can come across as disrespectful or overly familiar. When in doubt, bonjour is always safer.
What is the difference between bonne journée and bonne soirée?
Bonne journée means “have a good day” and is used during the daytime, typically until late afternoon. Bonne soirée means “have a good evening” and takes over once the day shifts into evening. The boundary is fluid, but if you’re leaving a place after 17h or 18h, bonne soirée is usually more appropriate.
When should I use bonsoir?
Use bonsoir in the evening, especially when arriving somewhere or greeting someone after the working day has clearly ended. In winter, that might be as early as 17h; in summer, closer to 19h or 20h. A good rule of thumb: if streetlights are on or you’re heading to dinner, bonsoir is the right choice.
Is merci enough by itself?
Often yes, but in French daily life merci sounds even better when paired with a greeting, a request, or a closing phrase. For example, “Merci, bonne journée” feels more complete than a lone “merci.” It signals that you’re not just being polite—you’re participating in the full social script.
Conclusion
French greetings are simple, but they carry real social weight. Master bonjour, bonsoir, salut, merci, s’il vous plaît, and the basic farewells, and you can handle most everyday situations with confidence. The goal isn’t perfect grammar; it’s using the right phrase at the right moment, with the right level of formality. These small words are your entry into the rhythm of French life—whether you’re buying a baguette, greeting a neighbour, or signing a lease. They show that you’ve taken the time to understand not just the language, but the way people live.