How to Say “Good Morning, How Are You Today” in French

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bonjour, comment vas-tu aujourd'hui ?
The English phrase "good morning, how are you today" is translated into French as bonjour, comment vas-tu aujourd'hui ?
This phrase is a polite morning greeting used to ask someone about their current well-being. The word bonjour is versatile. It is used for both "good morning" and "hello" throughout the daytime until evening.

What does it mean word for word?

The word bonjour is a combination of bon, meaning "good" and jour, meaning "day".

Which one should you use?

While bonjour, comment vas-tu aujourd'hui ? is the default, you may encounter other versions depending on the social context. Use Bonjour, comment allez-vous aujourd'hui ? for formal situations or when addressing groups and use Bonjour, comment ça va aujourd'hui ? for a more casual "Hey, how are you today?" feel.

How does it change in a sentence?

If the specific mention of "today" is not required by your context, you can shorten the phrase bonjour, comment vas-tu aujourd'hui ? to simply comment vas-tu ?

When do people say it?

When someone greets you with this phrase using the informal tu form, a common and natural response is Très bien, merci, et toi ? (Very well, thank you and you?).

Did you know?

  • In France, starting a conversation without bonjour is often considered a significant social offense. Failing to say it before asking comment vas-tu ? can make the speaker seem aggressive or rude.
  • The word aujourd'hui is a linguistic fossil that literally means 'on the day of today'. It contains the ancient word hui, which is a direct descendant of the Latin word 'hodie'.
  • In many French-speaking cultures, asking comment vas-tu ? is often a ritualistic greeting rather than a literal inquiry into your health. It is common to give a brief, positive response even if you are feeling slightly unwell.

Examples in context

  • Bonjour, comment allez-vous aujourd'hui? Je suis ravi de vous rencontrer.
    Hello, how are you today? I am pleased to meet you.
  • Bonjour, comment vas-tu aujourd'hui ? Tu as bien dormi ?
    Good morning, how are you today? Did you sleep well?

Example conversation

Gabriel and Emma meet at a cafe.

  1. Gabriel

    Bonjour, comment vas-tu aujourd'hui ?
    Good morning, how are you today?
  2. Emma

    Je vais très bien, merci !
    I am doing very well, thank you!
  3. Gabriel

    C'est super, Emma.
    That's great, Emma.
  4. Emma

    Et toi, Gabriel ?
    And you, Gabriel?

Sources

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Aaron Joseph
Aaron JosephHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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