Hello in French: bonjour, salut and when to use each

Hello in French is bonjour [1][2]. It is the safe default, and this page covers hi, the evening greeting, the phone greeting and how to say you’re welcome. For the other end of a conversation, see goodbye in French. For more everyday phrases, see common French phrases, and for words that differ in Québec, see English to Quebec French.

How do you say hello in French?

You say bonjour. The Académie française defines it as a politeness formula used to greet someone during the day [1]. Larousse’s English-French entry gives “bonjour, salut” for the greeting sense of hello [2]. Say bonjour to a shop assistant, a colleague or a stranger. Choosing bonjour when you are unsure is a general observation, not a dictionary finding.

The Académie’s entry also lists bonjour as a farewell during the day, but labels that use regional [1]. The next sections cover when to switch.

How do you say hi in French?

For a casual hi in French, say salut. Larousse marks it as familiar and translates it as “hi” or “hello” when you arrive, and “bye” when you leave [3]. The Office québécois de la langue française says salut is more familiar than bonjour and can be used day or night [4]. Say salut to friends and family. With someone you would address as vous, bonjour is the safer choice. That register advice is a general observation.

Because salut works both ways, context tells the listener whether you are arriving or leaving. For the leaving side, see goodbye in French.

When do you say bonsoir instead of bonjour?

Say bonsoir in the evening. Larousse gives it as the evening greeting for hello [2], and the Office describes bonsoir as used rather at the end of the day or in the evening, in contrast to bonjour [4]. Both sources set the contrast without naming an hour, so this page does not either. Hear the pair: bonjour and bonsoir.

How do you answer the phone in French?

On a personal line, you can answer with allô (also written allo), or with Oui, allô [5]. Larousse lists allô as the word for hello when answering the telephone [2]. At work, the Office advises giving the name of the organization, department or office, and says you may end the greeting with bonjour [5].

How do you say you’re welcome in French?

Reply de rien or je vous en prie to a merci. The Office québécois de la langue française lists three replies to thanks: “Je vous en prie”, “De rien” and “Il n’y a pas de quoi” [7][8]. Larousse marks de rien as familiar and a polite reply to thanks, and says that in careful speech you should prefer je vous en prie [6].

Say merci first, then pick the reply that fits the person: de rien for friends and everyday moments, je vous en prie when you want to sound more formal. That matching is our reading of the Larousse note, not a separate rule.

Do not translate “you’re welcome” word for word. The English phrase becomes bienvenue in some speech, but the Office says bienvenue is for welcoming a person, not for answering thanks [7].

Common mistakes

• Using allô to greet someone face to face. Larousse lists allô for answering the telephone [2]. In person, use bonjour or salut. That advice is a general observation.
• Saying salut to everyone. Larousse marks salut as familiar [3]. Keep it for people you know.
• Saying bienvenue after merci. The Office says bienvenue welcomes a person and does not answer thanks [7]. Use de rien or je vous en prie.
• Translating “good morning” word for word. The sources on this page give bonjour for the daytime greeting [1][2]. They do not give a separate morning word.
• Relying on a vocabulary page from a blog, including this one. Dictionary entries and Office pages change. Compare each page’s date and edition with the date at the top of this one.

See also: how are you in French and my name is in French.

See also: French names and French for travel.

See also: please and sorry in French and good morning and good night in French.

See also: thank you in French.

Sources