Two people shaking hands - Tumu Learning

Mastering French Greetings and Goodbyes: 10 Common Expressions with Pronunciation

How do you say hi and goodbye in French? 

What is the most polite way to say goodbye? What is a typical French greeting? In this post, we will share 10 Common Greeting Expressions in French.

Learning basic phrases in a new language is a great way to start your language learning journey. In this lesson, we will focus on some essential greetings and goodbyes in French.

Let's start with the greetings. In French, there are various ways to greet people, and it's important to know which ones to use in different situations. 

1) Bonjour

The first and most common way to say hello in French is "Bonjour." This polite and typical greeting can be used with anyone, whether it's a stranger, a friend, or a family member. It's also worth noting that "Bonjour" means both "hello" and "good morning."

Happy woman at work - Tumu Learning

2) Bonsoir

If you're greeting someone in the evening, you can use "Bonsoir," which means "good evening." This greeting is usually used after 6 o'clock in the evening.

3) Salut

Another informal way to say hello is "Salut," which is French slang for "hi." It's usually used among friends and family.

4) Allô

If you're in Quebec or French Canada, you can use "Allô" to say "hi" in a friendly way. However, in France, "Allô" is only used when answering the phone.

Man talking on phone- Tumu Learning

5) Bon matin

Finally, if you're in Quebec or French Canada, you can use "Bon matin" to say "good morning." This greeting is a direct translation of "good morning," as "bon" means "good" and "matin" means "morning."

French Course for Beginners 

Our self-paced beginner French course covers all the basics of the language in just six weeks. Designed for new learners, our course uses a range of teaching techniques to cater to different learning styles. With video lessons, interactive exercises, and quizzes, you'll gain practical communication skills and a solid foundation in French grammar and vocabulary.

Learn more!

Beginners French Course  - Tumu Learning

Now, let's move on to some expressions to say goodbye in French.

1) Salut

The first one is "Salut," which is interesting because it can be used for both hello and goodbye. Just be careful not to pronounce the "t" at the end.

2) Au revoir

If you want to say goodbye in a more formal and polite way, you can use "Au revoir," which means "until we see each other again."

Customer with shopping bags in hand - Tumu Learning

3) À plus tard

If you're unsure when you'll see the other person again, you can use "À plus tard," which means "see you later." It's worth noting that you don't pronounce the "s" at the end of "plus."

4) À la prochaine

Another friendly way to say goodbye is "À la prochaine," which means "until next time."

5) À bientôt

Lastly, "À bientôt" is another way to say "see you soon," and it's very similar to "À la prochaine."

French Greetings Pronunciation 

Watch our lesson now and start practicing your French greetings and goodbyes.

Learning basic greetings and goodbyes is an essential part of learning any new language, and it's a great way to start your French language learning journey. With these simple phrases, you'll be able to communicate with French speakers in a polite and friendly way.

Are you interested in learning French?

Start your lessons now and let's work together to achieve your language goals!

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.