Les Salutations (The Greetings)
1. Common Greetings in French
In French, greetings vary depending on the time of day, the relationship between speakers, and
the level of formality. Below are the most commonly used greetings:
● Bonjour – Used to say Good morning or Hello during the day.
● Bonsoir – Means Good evening and is used from late afternoon until night.
● Bonne nuit – Used to wish Good night before someone goes to sleep.
● Salut – Means Hi and is generally used in informal settings with friends, family, or peers.
● Enchanté(e) – Means Nice to meet you when meeting someone for the first time.
2. Asking & Responding to "How are you?"
When engaging in conversation, it's polite to ask someone how they are doing. There are
different ways to ask this in French:
● Comment ça va ? – How are you? (Informal)
● Comment allez-vous ? – How are you? (Formal)
Possible Responses:
● Ça va bien, merci. – I’m good, thank you.
● Ça va très bien. – I’m doing very well.
● Comme ci, comme ça. – I’m so-so.
● Ça ne va pas. – I’m not doing well.
● Je vais mal. – I’m feeling bad.
3. Formal vs Informal Addressing
In French, there are two different ways of addressing people based on the relationship or
setting:
Informal (Tu):
● Used for friends, family, children, or people of the same age group.
● Example:
○ Salut ! Comment tu t’appelles ? – Hi! What’s your name?
○ Tu vas bien ? – Are you doing well?
Formal (Vous):
● Used in professional settings, with strangers, or when addressing elderly or respected
people.
● Example:
○ Bonjour, comment vous appelez-vous ? – Hello, what’s your name?
○ Comment allez-vous ? – How are you?
4. Introducing Yourself in French
Introducing yourself is an essential part of communication. Here are some key phrases to use:
● Je m’appelle… – My name is…
● Enchanté(e). – Nice to meet you.
● Je suis… – I am…
● D’où viens-tu ? – Where are you from? (Informal)
● D’où venez-vous ? – Where are you from? (Formal)
● Je viens de… – I’m from…
Example:
● Je m’appelle Pierre. Je viens de France.
● My name is Pierre. I’m from France.
5. Taking Leave (Saying Goodbye)
Just as greetings are important, so are polite ways to say goodbye in French. Depending on the
time of day or situation, you can use the following:
● Au revoir – Goodbye (Formal and informal).
● À bientôt – See you soon.
● À demain – See you tomorrow.
● Bonne journée – Have a good day.
● Bonne soirée – Have a good evening.
● À plus tard – See you later.
6. Exercises on Les Salutations (The Greetings)
Exercise 1: Match the following
Match the French greeting with its English meaning:
French Greeting English Meaning
a) Bonjour 1. Good night
b) Bonsoir 2. See you tomorrow
c) Bonne nuit 3. Good evening
d) Salut 4. Hi (informal)
e) Au revoir 5. Goodbye
f) À demain 6. Good morning
g) Enchanté 7. Nice to meet you
h) Bonne journée 8. Have a good day
i) Bonne soirée 9. Have a good evening
j) À bientôt 10. See you soon
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks
Complete the following sentences using the appropriate French greeting:
1. __________ ! Je m’appelle Marie. (Good morning)
2. __________ ! Je suis fatigué. (Good night)
3. __________ ! On se voit demain. (See you tomorrow)
4. __________ ! Comment ça va ? (Hi - informal)
5. __________ ! Merci beaucoup. (Good evening)
6. __________ ! Je dois partir. (Goodbye)
7. __________ ! Ravi de vous rencontrer. (Nice to meet you)
8. __________ ! Passez une bonne journée. (Have a good day)
9. __________ ! Je vous reverrai plus tard. (See you later)
10. __________ ! Amusez-vous bien ce soir. (Have a good evening)
Exercise 3: Translate the following sentences
Translate the following sentences from French to English:
1. Bonjour, comment allez-vous ?
2. Je m’appelle Sophie.
3. Au revoir, à bientôt !
4. Bonne nuit, à demain.
5. Salut, ça va ?
6. Enchanté, je suis Paul.
7. Passez une bonne soirée.
8. Je viens du Canada.
9. Je vais mal aujourd'hui.
10. On se revoit plus tard.
