Bonjour
neutral, all day
In Canadian French the usual way to say "good morning" is Bonjour, which also means "hello" during the whole day. In Quebec you will also hear Bon matin.
Meaning: morning greeting (phrase)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| Bonjour | neutral, all day |
| bon matin | Quebec, informal |
Bonjour fits every situation, from a boss to a bus driver. Use Bon matin with people you know when you want a lighter, more local greeting.
Which one should you use?
French speakers in France do not usually say bon matin as a greeting. In Quebec and Acadia it is common, even if some speakers feel it follows English "good morning" too closely.
How do you pronounce it?
Bonjour sounds like "bon-ZHOOR" with a nasal on.
Did you know?
- In 2017 the National Assembly of Quebec passed a motion asking shopkeepers to greet customers with Bonjour alone instead of the bilingual Bonjour, hi.
Examples in context
- Bonjour, madame Tremblay.Good morning, Mrs. Tremblay.
- Bon matin! Tu as bien dormi?Good morning! Did you sleep well?
- Bonjour tout le monde!Good morning, everyone!
Example conversation
Sophie meets her colleague Daniel at the office in Quebec City at eight o'clock.
- SophieBonjour, Daniel!Good morning, Daniel!
- DanielBon matin, Sophie. Un café?Good morning, Sophie. A coffee?
- SophieOui, avec plaisir.Yes, with pleasure.
