Greetings and politeness
Bonjour, merci, and the words that keep things smooth.
Politeness formulas matter in France. Greeting someone before you ask them anything is expected, in shops, offices and on the phone.
Hello and goodbye
| French | When |
|---|---|
| Bonjour | hello, during the day; to anyone |
| Bonsoir | hello, in the evening |
| Salut | hi or bye, to friends |
| Au revoir | goodbye |
| À bientôt, À plus tard, À demain | see you soon, later, tomorrow |
| Bonne journée, Bonne soirée | have a nice day, evening, on leaving |
| Bonne nuit | good night, at bedtime |
Add Madame or Monsieur to be polite: Bonjour Madame. Mademoiselle is old-fashioned.
How are you?
| Casual | Polite |
|---|---|
| Ça va ? — Ça va, et toi ? | Comment allez-vous ? — Très bien, merci. Et vous ? |
| Comment ça va ?, Comment vas-tu ? |
ça va is both the question and the answer: "Is it going? — It's going."
Please, thank you, sorry
| French | English |
|---|---|
| s'il vous plaît, s'il te plaît | please |
| merci, merci beaucoup | thank you, thank you very much |
| de rien, je vous en prie, il n'y a pas de quoi | you're welcome |
| pardon | sorry, excuse me (bumping into someone, not hearing) |
| excusez-moi | excuse me (getting attention) |
| désolé, désolée | sorry (for something more serious) |
Meeting people
Introduce yourself with Je m'appelle … or Moi, c'est …, and answer with Enchanté (Enchantée if you're a woman), "Pleased to meet you". People shake hands; friends and family often greet each other with la bise, a kiss on each cheek.
Cards from this guide
8 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Getting started cards.
What do you say when you walk into a shop in France?
Bonjour, or Bonjour Madame or Monsieur.
When do you greet someone with bonsoir?
In the evening.
How do you greet a friend casually?
Salut !
How do you answer merci politely?
Je vous en prie.
What do you say when you're introduced to someone?
Enchanté, or Enchantée if you're a woman.
What do you say when you bump into someone?
Pardon !
What do you say when leaving a shop during the day?
Au revoir, bonne journée !
How do you ask "How are you?" casually, and answer?
Ça va ? — Ça va, et toi ?