How to Say Hello in French: Bonjour, Salut and More

How do you say hello in French?

The word you need is bonjour. It literally means “good day” (bon = good, jour = day), and it’s the safest, most foolproof way to say hello in French. You can use it with anyone, of any age, from early morning until the evening.

You pronounce it “bohn-ZHOOR,” with that soft French “j” (like the “s” in “measure”). When in doubt, bonjour is always the right choice.

Tip: a clear bonjour with a smile is more than a greeting in France, it’s basic courtesy. Use it before you ask for anything.

Salut: the casual hello (and goodbye)

Salut (pronounced “sa-LU”) is the relaxed, informal “hi.” It works between friends, family, and peers, a bit like “hey” in English.

Here’s the bonus: salut also means “bye.” You can use it both when you arrive and when you leave. Just keep it for casual situations, never with someone you’d address formally as vous.

Coucou: the cute, friendly hello

Coucou (“koo-KOO”) is one of the sweetest ways to say hi in French. It’s reserved for people you’re close to: good friends, family, children, or a partner. You’ll often see it at the start of a friendly text message.

Don’t use coucou at work, with strangers, or with shop staff, where it would sound far too familiar.

Greetings by time of day

French greetings shift with the clock:

• Bonjour → from morning until roughly the end of the afternoon.
• Bonsoir → “good evening,” used once the day winds down.
• Allô → “hello?” but only on the phone, never face to face.

Note that bonne journée (“have a good day”) and bonne soirée (“have a good evening”) are ways to say goodbye, not hello, so don’t mix them up.

Other useful greetings and follow-ups

Once you’ve said hello, you’ll often add one of these:

• Ça va ? → “how’s it going?”, the everyday follow-up to salut.
• Comment allez-vous ? → “how are you?” (formal).
• Enchanté(e) → “nice to meet you,” when you’re introduced to someone.
• Rebonjour (or just re) → “hello again,” if you cross paths with the same person twice in a day.
• Quoi de neuf ? → “what’s new?”, a casual follow-up among friends.
• Bienvenue → “welcome,” to greet someone arriving at your home or city.

For more of these everyday building blocks, see our list of useful French phrases, or our roundup of common French phrases to learn.

Saying hello in writing: emails and texts

Greetings change a little on the page. Here’s what French speakers actually write:

• Bonjour → the standard opener for almost any email, even professional ones (no need for “Dear”).
• Salut / coucou → casual openers for texts to friends.
• Cher / Chère → “Dear,” for a more formal letter (Cher Monsieur, Chère Madame).

Tip: starting a work email with a plain Bonjour followed by the person’s name is perfectly polite in French. You don’t need anything fancier.

Hello with a kiss: la bise

In France, a greeting often comes with la bise, a light kiss on each cheek, between friends and family. The number of kisses varies by region (usually two, sometimes one, three, or even four). With colleagues or strangers, a handshake or a simple bonjour is the norm. When unsure, let the other person lead.

A common etiquette mistake to avoid

Don’t greet the same person with bonjour twice in one day. If you do, a French speaker might tease you with “on s’est déjà vu !” (“we’ve already met today!”). The fix is simple: the second time, say rebonjour.

A quick guide to choosing the right hello

• Anyone, daytime, safe: bonjour
• Friends, casual: salut
• Close friends and family: coucou
• Evening: bonsoir
• On the phone: allô

So, which greeting will you try first? If you want to sound even more natural, our guide to French slang words is a fun next step. Tell us in the comments how it goes!