salutation
/sa.ly.ta.sjɔ̃/feminine
The French word for greeting is salutation.
salutation is a noun meaning an acknowledgement of a person's presence or arrival.
Meaning: acknowledgement of a persons presence or arrival (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/sa.ly.ta.sjɔ̃/
When do people say it?
French greetings are often accompanied by a kiss on the cheek, depending on the relationship.
Did you know?
- In French culture, failing to offer a salutation when entering a small shop is often perceived as a significant social offense or a sign of poor upbringing.
- When giving la bise, the greeting typically begins on the left cheek, and starting on the right can cause a confused 'clash' of faces.
- The word salut is a common greeting that serves as both a casual 'hello' and a casual 'goodbye', making it a versatile tool for any transition.
Examples in context
- Je suis également fier d'apporter avec moi la bonne volonté du peuple américain, et une salutation de paix de la part des communautés musulmanes dans mon pays : Assalaamu alaykum.I am also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: assalaamu alaykum.This sentence shows how salutation can be used when referring to a greeting of peace.Tatoeba #481603 by sacredceltic, translation #376845 by saeb
- Ceci est la salutation musulmane.This is the Muslim greeting.This sentence uses salutation to identify a specific type of greeting.Tatoeba #8868507 by carlosalberto, translation #6445358 by OsoHombre
- Bonjour!Hello!
- Salut, ça va?Hi, how are you?
- Coucou, mon ami!Hello, my friend!
- Bonjour, Jean. Enchanté(e) de faire votre connaissance.Hello, Jean. Nice to meet you.
- Une salutation formelle est toujours préférable.A formal greeting is always preferable.
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are discussing etiquette for a business meeting.
- EmmaQuelle salutation dois-je utiliser avec le client ?What greeting should I use with the client?
- GabrielUn simple bonjour est parfait, Emma.A simple hello is perfect, Emma.
- EmmaEst-ce qu'une salutation formelle est nécessaire ?Is a formal greeting necessary?
- GabrielNon, Gabriel pense que c'est trop rigide.No, Gabriel thinks it is too rigid.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “greeting” translations and entries salutation, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
