Just as in English, there are several ways to say hello in French. You can simply use the informal salut (hi) on its own. You can also use
Salut like saying "Hello", while Bonjour is like" Hello/ Good day/ or Good morning". But Bonjour is used when you don't know the person that well. Salut you can say to your friends and family.
It's a word with many meanings (including salute, salvation, and cheers), and is generally informal but not rude or slangy. Salut works well for casual work environments, acquaintances, and friends.
Salut. The third way to say 'hello' in French is to use the greeting 'salut', which is more informal than 'bonjour' and 'bonsoir'. You can use it with people like friends or family, when the situation is less formal.
One of the common mistakes is using “salut” as a greeting in formal settings, as it is considered informal and impolite.
Just as in English, there are several ways to say hello in French. You can simply use the informal salut (hi) on its own. You can also use bonjour (good morning or good afternoon) or bonsoir (good evening).
Salut is a casual French expression. There are pretty strict rules about when to use salut. This is an informal greeting and because it's considered so casual, salut should only be used as a greeting between close friends.
In France, saying bonjour in French is a sign of respect and a cultural norm. It's not optional to forgo the greeting if you want people to know that you understand French manners.
You can either reply saying "Bonjour" back or you could say "salut" which also means hello but in an informal way. This is especially important in French because French-speakers tend to be much more formal about greetings.
Salut is not a way that you would greet strangers either, while it is used in informal settings, it is mainly said to people you know. This can include any acquaintances, though, not just friends and family.
The usual response to merci is de rien (You're welcome – literally, It's nothing) or il n'y a pas de quoi. In a more formal context, you could say Je vous en prie or Je t'en prie.
1) Write an email in French: Greetings
Bonjour (= Hello) Bonsoir (= Good evening) Salut (= Hi!, informal, with friends) Coucou (= Hi!, informal and a bit more intimate)
“Salut” is an informal greeting in French, and is the equivalent of saying “hi” or “hey” in English. This is a greeting that you will want to use with your peers, those younger than you, and people that you know. When responding, you can use any other greeting in French, including repeating “salut” back.
You can say “Santé” which translates to “to your health”. A more polite way is to say “À votre santé!”, which is another common way to say cheers in French.
Once you reach the end of the afternoon around 6 p.m., you stop saying bonjour and you start to say bonsoir, which means “good evening.” Unlike bonjour, you can use bonsoir when saying goodbye where it would translate more to “goodnight” instead of “hello.” If it's so late in the night that whoever you're saying ...
It is expected that you will shake hands with everyone present when arriving and leaving. Among friends and relatives, the most common greeting is the 'la bise' (kiss on both cheeks). The la bise consists of placing one's cheek against another's, making a kiss noise, then repeating it on the opposite side.
Bad French Table Manners Are… To start drinking before everybody has a full glass in front of them (and someone has a chance to make a toast). To keep your hands under the table. If you are a man, to serve yourself before offering the food to the woman sitting next to you.
The French strictly use salut with acquaintances and not strangers. In more formal situations the French use both bonjour and au revoir.
With a verbal greeting you should say "Bonjour" (Hello) + their title or first name if you are friends. The French etiquette for saying goodbye is pretty much the same. Merci Monsieur, Madame etc.
When someone says 'bonsoir' (pronounced: bohn-SWAHR), you can simply reply 'bonsoir' as well. Notice that this is the equivalent of 'good evening.
It is rude to sit with one's legs spread apart unless in a relaxed context. Rather, sit straight with your legs crossed at the knee or knees together. Feet should not be placed on tables or chairs. If someone is invited to a restaurant or a business function, it is acceptable to arrive at the specific time.
Au revoir, Bonsoir
It's the perfect equivalent to “goodbye”. Bonsoir is a polite alternative when it's already dark. Yes, it can be used for saying both hello and goodbye ! Say au revoir anytime, and bonsoir when it's already dark.
One major difference is that Bonsoir can be used to say goodbye, whereas bonjour never is. This means that you can use Bonsoir when you meet someone (evening hours), and at the same time, you can use Bonsoir upon leaving (again not during the day).