If you want to come across as polite and cultured in France, a simple “Salut!” (Hi!) won’t be enough. For formal situations, you’ll need something more serious. Let’s break it down.
1. Bonjour — the classic polite greeting
Bonjour (bon-zhoor) is a universal option that fits any situation. It’s like saying “Good day” or “Hello” in English. You use it in the morning and during the day when seeing someone for the first time. If you’re walking into a shop, an office, or talking to strangers, bonjour is your best friend.
Examples:
— In a shop: Bonjour, madame. Avez-vous du pain frais? (Hello, ma’am. Do you have fresh bread?)
— In an office: Bonjour, monsieur Dupont. Comment allez-vous? (Hello, Mr. Dupont. How are you?)
2. Bonsoir — the evening version
After 6 PM or when it’s starting to get dark, people switch from bonjour to bonsoir (bon-swahr). It’s basically the evening version of “hello.” If you storm into a restaurant and yell bonjour at 9 PM, they’ll understand, but it’ll feel a little odd.
Examples:
— In a restaurant: Bonsoir, avez-vous une table pour deux? (Good evening, do you have a table for two?)
— At the theater: Bonsoir, le spectacle commence à quelle heure? (Good evening, what time does the show start?)
3. Comment allez-vous? — the polite “how are you”
If you want to be extra polite, say Bonjour, comment allez-vous? (bon-zhoor, koh-mahn-tah-lay-voo?). That’s like saying, “Hello, how are you?” in a formal way. This is used in official settings — with a teacher, a doctor, or someone you don’t know well.
Examples:
— At school: Bonjour, madame Lefevre. Comment allez-vous? (Hello, Madame Lefevre. How are you?)
— At the doctor’s: Bonjour, docteur. Comment allez-vous aujourd’hui? (Hello, doctor. How are you feeling today?)
4. Enchanté(e) — nice to meet you
When you’re introduced to someone, you can say Enchanté (ahn-shahn-tay) if you’re male, or Enchantée if you’re female. It means “Nice to meet you” and sounds very elegant.
Examples:
— During an introduction: Bonjour, je m’appelle Maxime. Enchanté! (Hello, my name is Maxime. Nice to meet you!)
— In a work setting: Bonsoir, je suis votre nouvelle collègue, Claire. Enchantée! (Good evening, I’m your new colleague, Claire. Nice to meet you!)
5. Messieurs-dames — when greeting a group
If you walk into a café or store and want to greet everyone at once, say Messieurs-dames! (meh-syuh-dahm). It’s like saying “Hello, ladies and gentlemen!” in a casual, everyday way.
Examples:
— At a café: Messieurs-dames! Qu’est-ce que vous recommandez aujourd’hui? (Hello, everyone! What do you recommend today?)
— In a store: Messieurs-dames! Où puis-je trouver des souvenirs? (Hello! Where can I find souvenirs?)
If you don’t want to end up in an awkward situation in France, remember:
✔ Use Bonjour during the day and Bonsoir in the evening.
✔ Add Comment allez-vous? if you want to be especially polite.
✔ Say Enchanté(e) when meeting someone for the first time.
✔ Use Messieurs-dames when addressing a group of people.
Now you definitely won’t mix up French formal greetings!