bonjour à toi aussi
In French, "good morning too" is expressed as bonjour à toi aussi.
The phrase bonjour à toi aussi is used as a polite response to return a morning greeting to someone who has just said bonjour to you.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bonjour (good day), à toi (to you) and aussi (also).
Which one should you use?
bonjour à toi aussi is the version used for individuals you know well, whereas bonjour à vous aussi is used to say "good morning to you too" when addressing a stranger, a superior or a group of people.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form bonjour à toi aussi uses the singular informal pronoun toi, making it appropriate for friends, family or peers.
Did you know?
- In France, it is considered extremely impolite to start any interaction, even with a shopkeeper or a stranger, without first saying bonjour.
- While bonjour translates as 'good morning' in this context, it is used throughout the entire day until the sun sets, at which point speakers switch to bonsoir.
- The word aussi is likely a calque, or a direct translation, of the Frankish word *allswā, which meant 'as' or 'likewise'.
Examples in context
- Bonjour à toi aussi, l'ami.Good morning to you too, my friend.
- Bonjour à toi aussi, petite sœur.Good morning to you too, little sister.
- Ah, bonjour à toi aussi !Ah, good morning to you too!
Example conversation
A neighbor greets a woman in the hallway.
- NathanBonjour, Manon !Good morning, Manon!
- ManonBonjour à toi aussi, Nathan.Good morning to you too, Nathan.
- NathanTu as passé une bonne nuit ?Did you sleep well?
- ManonOui, très bien, merci.Yes, very well, thank you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aussi, bonjour, toi, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
