bonjour
/bɔ̃.ʒuʁ/
The English phrase "hello and good morning" is translated into French as bonjour.
bonjour is the most common and versatile way to say hello in French. It can be used throughout the day until sunset.
What does it mean word for word?
The word bonjour is a compound of bon (good) and jour (day).
Which one should you use?
bonjour is used during the day, whereas bonsoir is used once the evening begins.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, salut is primarily used in informal situations.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɔ̃.ʒuʁ/
When do people say it?
In French culture, it is considered impolite to start a conversation with a stranger, such as a shopkeeper or waiter, without first saying bonjour.
Did you know?
- In many parts of the French-speaking world, failing to say bonjour when entering a shop is seen as a direct insult to the staff rather than just a lack of manners.
- The word jour is related to the English word 'journey', which originally referred to a day's travel or the distance traveled in one day.
- While bonjour is a greeting, using it as a farewell is generally incorrect. To say 'have a good day' when leaving, you must use the phrase bonne journée.
Examples in context
- Bonjour, monsieur.Hello and good morning, sir.
- Bonjour tout le monde !Hello and good morning, everyone!
- Bonjour, je voudrais un café.Hello and good morning, I would like a coffee.
Example conversation
Lucas and Chloé meet in a cafe in the morning.
- LucasBonjour, Chloé !Hello and good morning, Chloé!
- ChloéBonjour, Lucas. Comment vas-tu ?Hello and good morning, Lucas. How are you?
- LucasÇa va bien, merci.I am doing well, thank you.
- ChloéMoi aussi, je vais bien.I am also doing well.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bonjour, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonjour, CC BY-SA 4.0.
