Salut !
casual, friends
French has no separate "good afternoon" greeting for a friend. You say Salut ! or simply Bonjour ! until the evening, when it becomes Bonsoir. It is also called Coucou !
Meaning: daytime greeting (phrase)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| Salut ! | casual, friends |
| Bonjour ! | neutral |
| Coucou ! | very casual |
Salut ! is the everyday word between friends at any hour. Coucou ! is a cheerful, informal hello, often used by women and young people.
Which one should you use?
Bon après-midi ! does exist but it is a wish for the rest of the afternoon, used when you part ways, not when you meet.
How do you pronounce it?
Salut is pronounced "sah-LOO" with the final t silent.
Did you know?
- Salut also works as a goodbye in French, so the same word opens and closes a chat between friends.
Examples in context
- Salut, Thomas ! Ça va ?Hi, Thomas! How are you?
- Bon après-midi, à demain !Have a good afternoon, see you tomorrow!
- Coucou, tu fais quoi ?Hey, what are you up to?
Example conversation
Thomas meets his friend Elsa on a café terrace after lunch.
- ThomasSalut, Elsa !Hi, Elsa!
- ElsaSalut ! Tu vas bien ?Hi! Are you well?
- ThomasTrès bien. On prend un café ?Very well. Shall we have a coffee?
- ElsaAvec plaisir.With pleasure.
Thank you, Maureen! I enjoyed learning the various ways to greet someone in French, plus the way it is pronounced!