bonjour, comment allez-vous ?
The English phrase "good afternoon, how are you?" is translated into French as bonjour, comment allez-vous ?
This phrase is a polite greeting used in the afternoon to ask someone about their well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The greeting bonjour is composed of two parts: bon, which means "good" and jour, which means "day".
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often attempt to use bon après-midi to mean "good afternoon" as a greeting, but you should use bonjour instead as it is the standard greeting used during the afternoon.
When do people say it?
A standard polite response to the question comment allez-vous ? is Je vais bien, merci.
Did you know?
- The greeting bonjour is so essential in France that failing to say it before asking for something in a shop can be perceived as a genuine insult to the staff.
- The word jour in the greeting bonjour is a distant relative of the English word 'journey'. Both words are linked to the historical concept of a day's travel.
- When you ask comment allez-vous ?, you are using the verb aller, which means 'to go'. You are literally asking how the person is 'going' rather than how they 'are'.
Example conversation
Léa meets Hugo at a business meeting.
- LéaBonjour, comment allez-vous ?Good afternoon, how are you?
- HugoJe vais très bien, merci.I am doing very well, thank you.
- LéaJe suis ravie de vous voir.I am delighted to see you.
- HugoMoi aussi, Léa.Me too, Léa.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonjour, comment, CC BY-SA 4.0.
