How to Say Hello in French

 

Whether you’re strolling through Paris, meeting friends at a cafe or chatting with someone over the phone, greetings are a big part of the French language. Using the right greeting shows respect and builds your confidence.

Saying hello in French can be a bit challenging at first. Thankfully, once you learn the most common ways to say it, it’s easy to get conversations going with the locals.

Bonjour (pronounced bonu) is the classic French greeting. This versatile word means “hello,” and it’s heard all over the country — you can even hear it in Disney’s popular film, Beauty and the Beast! It’s the perfect way to greet people you know and introduce yourself to new acquaintances.

Bien le bonjour (boh-nee luh) is a slightly more formal greeting that’s a great choice for situations where you might be meeting someone for the first time, or when you’re addressing an authority figure. This is a great way to show your respect and is especially appropriate when speaking with a business colleague, a professor or any other professional.

Comment ca va? (kom-ment ka voo) is another common way to ask how someone is doing. It’s a little more casual than the more formal bien le bonjour, and it can be used with acquaintances as well as friends and family members.

A fun and informal alternative to The french connection hello the above is coucou (kuh-woo). This is something you might hear from kids or use with your close friends, but it’s not something you’ll hear an adult say on the street.

Vous (you-voh) is another fun and casual way to say hello, and it’s more common among older adults. This is a great greeting to use when addressing a friend or family member you haven’t seen in a while, or if you’re running into them at the grocery store.

Allo (all-oh) is a short and sweet way to ask how someone is doing. It’s similar to the German greeting Wie geht es dir? (wie-GOT tsuh-DRI) and is the cool, laidback little brother to comment ca va?

Allo is also a good choice to use when answering the phone. Just like in French, you’ll use a rising tone to indicate that you are asking a question.