How to Say Hello and Goodbye in French

If you learn only one thing before your trip to France, make it this: how to say hello and goodbye in French — properly. It sounds almost too simple, but a warm "Bonjour" is the single most important social key in the country. Walk into a bakery, a pharmacy, or a small shop without one and you'll feel the temperature drop. Lead with it, and doors open.

The good news is that French greetings follow clear, predictable rules. Once you know which word fits which moment, you'll navigate hellos and goodbyes with the confidence of someone who's lived there for years. This guide covers every greeting you'll actually use, when to use it, how to pronounce it, and the cultural etiquette that makes the difference between sounding like a tourist and sounding polite.

Why "Bonjour" matters more than you think

In French culture, greeting someone isn't optional politeness — it's the entry ticket to any interaction. Before you ask a question, order a coffee, or request directions, you say Bonjour. Skipping it can come across as abrupt or even rude, no matter how friendly you are afterward.

Here's the mindset shift: in France, you greet the person before you address the task. Say Bonjour first, then ask what you need. Master that one habit and everything else about French social life gets easier.

How to say hello in French

French has a small set of greetings, and choosing the right one comes down to two things: the time of day and how formal the situation is.

French	English	Pronunciation	When to use
Bonjour	Hello / Good day	bohn-ZHOOR	The default. Anyone, anywhere, from morning until ~6pm.
Bonsoir	Good evening	bohn-SWAHR	From early evening (~6pm) onward, formal or casual.
Salut	Hi	sah-LEW	Informal only — friends, family, peers.
Coucou	Hey! / Hiya	koo-KOO	Very casual, for close friends and family.
Allô ?	Hello?	ah-LOH	Only when answering the phone — never in person.

The two you'll lean on most are Bonjour and Salut. Bonjour is your safe, all-purpose choice — you literally cannot go wrong with it in daytime. Salut is friendly and relaxed, but reserve it for people you'd address casually; using it with a stranger, an official, or an older person can feel too familiar.

One common beginner trap: Allô is not a general hello. It's only for answering the telephone, like the English "Hello?" when you pick up a call.

How to say goodbye in French

Goodbyes work the same way — one reliable default plus a few situational options.

French	English	Pronunciation	When to use
Au revoir	Goodbye	oh ruh-VWAHR	The standard, polite goodbye for any situation.
Salut	Bye	sah-LEW	Informal — doubles as both hi and bye with friends.
À bientôt	See you soon	ah bee-yan-TOH	You expect to see them again fairly soon.
À plus tard	See you later	ah plew TAHR	Later the same day; often shortened to à plus.
À tout à l'heure	See you shortly	ah too-tah-LUHR	You'll meet again within a few hours.
À demain	See you tomorrow	ah duh-MAN	When you'll see them the next day.
Bonne journée	Have a good day	bun zhoor-NAY	A warm send-off during the day.
Bonne soirée	Have a good evening	bun swah-RAY	A warm send-off in the evening.

Au revoir is your go-to. It literally means "until we see each other again" and fits every context, from leaving a restaurant to ending a meeting.

The secret to sounding natural: layering

Here's something textbooks rarely tell you. Native French speakers rarely stop at a single goodbye — they layer it. Instead of a flat Au revoir, they add a time-of-day wish to make it warmer and more human:

Au revoir, bonne journée ! — Goodbye, have a good day!
Salut, à bientôt ! — Bye, see you soon!
Bonne soirée, à demain ! — Have a good evening, see you tomorrow!

This little combination is the difference between correct French and natural French. Practicing these pairings out loud until they roll off the tongue is exactly the kind of thing that makes you sound fluent far sooner than grammar drills do. It's also the focus of Lesson A1-1: Greeting (formal) & Saying Goodbye inside Simply French, where you shadow native speakers and get instant pronunciation feedback so these phrases feel automatic before you ever need them.

Formal vs. informal: reading the room

Choosing between formal and informal is about your relationship with the person. A quick rule of thumb:

Use Bonjour / Bonsoir / Au revoir with anyone you don't know well — shopkeepers, waiters, officials, colleagues you've just met, and anyone older. This is the respectful, safe register, and no one is ever offended by it.

Use Salut / Coucou / À plus with friends, family, classmates, and peers. These feel warm among people you're close to, but overly casual with strangers.

When in doubt, go formal. It's always better to be slightly too polite than too familiar.

La bise: the cheek-kiss greeting

You can't talk about French hellos and goodbyes without mentioning la bise — the light cheek kiss. Among friends and family, people often greet and part with a quick air-kiss on each cheek (you're not actually kissing the cheek, just lightly touching cheeks and kissing the air).

A few things to know:

The number of kisses varies by region — typically two in Paris, but three or even four in parts of the south. In professional settings or when meeting someone for the first time, a handshake (une poignée de main) is the norm instead. And as a visitor, you don't need to initiate la bise — just follow the other person's lead, and you'll be fine.

If all of this feels like a lot to track, don't worry: in practice you'll rely on just a handful of phrases every day. Get comfortable with Bonjour, Salut, Au revoir, and Bonne journée, and you'll handle the vast majority of real greetings and goodbyes without hesitation. The rest you'll pick up naturally as you hear them used.

Putting it together: a natural exchange

Here's how a complete, polite interaction sounds from start to finish:

You: Bonjour !
Baker: Bonjour ! Vous désirez ?
You: Une baguette, s'il vous plaît.
(after paying)You: Merci, au revoir ! Bonne journée !
Baker: Au revoir, bonne journée !

Notice how the whole exchange is bookended by greetings — Bonjour to open, au revoir plus a warm bonne journée to close. That's the rhythm of everyday French politeness.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common way to say hello in French?

Bonjour (bohn-ZHOOR) is by far the most common and useful greeting. It works in any situation from morning until about 6pm, with anyone — strangers, friends, or officials. After 6pm, switch to Bonsoir.

What is the difference between "bonjour" and "salut"?

Bonjour is polite and works everywhere, including with strangers and in formal settings. Salut is informal and should only be used with friends, family, and peers. When you're unsure, choose Bonjour — it's never wrong.

How do you say goodbye in French?

The standard goodbye is Au revoir (oh ruh-VWAHR), meaning "goodbye." With friends you can say Salut or À plus. For a warmer farewell, add a time-of-day wish like Bonne journée ("have a good day").

Can "salut" mean both hello and goodbye?

Yes. Salut is used for both "hi" and "bye" in casual situations, much like the English "hey" and "see ya." Just remember it's informal, so save it for people you know well.

Is it rude not to say "bonjour" in France?

It can come across that way. In France, greeting someone with Bonjour before you speak to them is expected politeness, especially in shops and with service staff. Leading with a greeting sets a friendly tone and is considered basic good manners.

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