How To Say Hello In French In Different Ways

We all know that “Hello” in French is “Bonjour”. It is the universal French greeting: the classic French way of acknowledging someone, a simple way of wishing others a good day. When in France, however, there are various ways to say “Hello” and “Bonjour” may not always be appropriate.

There is a different way to greet a stranger, another way to salute a friend or address a group of people. There are also proper ways to acknowledge a man or a woman with a “Hello” in France. The French are quite particular with saying the right things, and it all starts with “Hello”.

How To Say Hello In French In Different Ways

Here are the many ways how to say hello in French to remember when you visit France.

Casual and Informal Ways To Say Hello In French

Bonjour 

It means “Good Day“, and it is the widely accepted and practiced way of saying “Hello”.  Whether you are greeting someone on the streets of Paris, going to a restaurant in Lyon, or entering a boulangerie in Nice, Bonjour is the standard greeting.

There is no French equipment for “Good Morning” so it is safe to say Bonjour during the day. When it gets dark, however, the more acceptable “Hello” is to simply say Bonsoir, which means “Good evening“.

Bonjour, among friends, is usually accompanied by bisous à la française (kiss on the cheeks) or a handshake. Do remember that the French people, even close friends, do not hug when they see each other.

Bonjour à tous

The English translation for this greeting is “Hello to all” or “Hello everybody“. This is used when addressing a group of people that is composed of both males and females. There are other ways to say it which are also acceptable. These are “Bonjour tout le monde”  meaning “Hello to all the people” and “Bonjour à toutes” which is “Hello everybody – females only” or “Hello to all the ladies“.

Salut

This is a casual French expression, which is also both equivalent of “Hi” and “goodbye” in English. This is commonly accepted as a greeting between friends, family, and other people you’re already comfortable with.

There are strict rules when using “Salut”. In France, it is considered too casual and should only be used with people you’re already familiar with. A variation of this greeting is “Salut, toi.” which translates to “Hi there, you“. Again, this is a cute and rather intimate greeting that can only be used with close friends and even partners.

Read More: 13 Ways To Say Goodbye In French

Quoi de neuf?

This one is a very casual French greeting that means “What’s up?”. Since its English equivalent is considered slang, this greeting may be uncouth in some parts of France. This way of saying “Hello” should be used only among close friends. The French are known to be quite particular with politeness, so it is not recommended to say “Quoi de neuf?” to strangers or even friends of friends. They might be put off by such a casual question from a person they don’t know.

Coucou

If “Salut” is informal, “Coucou” is familiar. It is a way to say “Hello” that is not for strangers. This is a cute form of “Salut” that is the equivalent of “Hey, there!” and is even considered slang. It is only used among close friends, especially females, and when talking to kids.

The greeting “Coucou” is often used by female friends and family in text or messenger apps, almost like an endearment instead of a mere “Hey, there!” Just like “Salut”, toi can also be added to Coucou to form ” Hey there, you” especially when talking to kids.

Ça va? and its variations

Another way to say “Hello” in French is by saying “Ça va?” which translates to “How are you doing?” This is a casual greeting and no “Bonjour” or “Salut” before it is necessary, especially if addressing a friend, family, close acquaintance, or colleague.

It is pretty standard to say “Ça va?” in  France and it is also considered more polite. An even more familiar way of saying it is “Ça roule?” (How’s it going?) or the slang “Quoi de neuf?” (What’s new ?) which will be discussed in the next item.

Enchanté(e)

A beautiful and fascinating way to say “Hello” in French, “Enchanté(e)” is more of a flattering response. It means both “Hello to you, too” and “Pleased to meet you”, said in a shortened version of “I’m enchanted to meet you”.

This delightful greeting says in one word what others would normally say in an entire sentence. When said among friends, “Enchanté(e)” is usually accompanied by a bise or cheek kisses.

Other ways to say “Pleased to meet you” in French include Ravi(e) de faire votre connaissance, which means “Thrilled to meet you.” When in written form, it is worth noting that Enchanté is an adjective and is masculine while spelling it with an extra “e” is feminine.

Allô

The French have a slightly different way of saying “Hello” when answering a phone call.  They say “Allô” in a very specific way. It is not a greeting, but more of to check if someone is on the other end (of the line). This “Hello” is not a greeting but something you will most likely hear in France, when you take a call or when you overhear others talking on their cell phones.

Rebonjour

Now, this is a rather quirky way of saying “Hello” in French, but it does make sense. There is also a specific situation when you can use it. The greeting “Rebonjour” means “Hello again“, and it is what you say when you run into someone you just said “Hello” to, like a few hours or a day before. It is a concise way of acknowledging that you met the person previously, so you say, “Rebonjour!” instead of the standard bonjour.

Comment ça va?

A bit more formal way of saying “Hello” in French, “Comment ça va?” means “How are you?” This is also the safest thing to say if you just met someone and you feel like just “Bonjour” is too curt or casual. “Comment ça va?” is also the best option when you find yourself in a formal or professional situation. “Comment ça va?” can be used on its own or with a “Bonjour” before it.

Formal Ways To Say Hello In French

When in France and you find yourself in a formal environment or situation, it is best to know how to properly and formally address people as you say “Hello“. Learning how to say “Bonjour” formally is quite easy. You simply have to communicate with the person you’re speaking to more politely with sir or madam, or with their name if you know it.

Bonjour madame – Hello Madam

Bonjour monsieur – Hello Sir

Bonjour Monsieur Dupont – Hello Mr. Dupont

Bonjour Madame Ozanne – Hello Mrs. Ozanne

Bonjour mesdames et messieurs – (Hello ladies and gentlemen)

For example, this is how the French president would say during a speech, the very formal “Mesdames, mesdemoiselles, messieurs, bonjour” (ladies, young ladies, gentlemen, hello). This is considered to be the most formal way to address a group of people.

Bonjour messieur-dames – (Hello ladies and gentlemen)

Meanwhile, “messieur-dames” is the abbreviation for ladies and gentlemen. It is informal and not grammatically correct, but is an acceptable way of saying “Hello” to a group of men and women. This is what one says when entering a shop or greeting his colleagues as in his workplace.

Want to learn more French phrases? Check out our language guides below: 

• Nice to meet you in French 
• I love you in French
• Goodbye in French
• I’m Sorry in French
• Thank You In French
• I Miss You In French