bonjour garçon
The phrase "hello boy" in French is bonjour garçon.
bonjour garçon is a greeting used to address a boy.
Which one should you use?
Bonjour jeune homme is used to address a boy or a teenager in a formal context, whereas Salut mec is an informal phrase used among friends and peers to say "Hi, dude!"
Did you know?
- While bonjour garçon is a literal translation, calling a child garçon as a greeting can sound like you are addressing a waiter. In France, it is much more natural to use the child's name or a term of endearment.
- The word garçon shares an unexpected history with the English word 'wretch'. Both words trace back to a Germanic root referring to an 'exile' or 'outcast'.
- While garçon means 'boy' today, it originally meant 'servant' in Old French. This history is why it is still used to call a waiter in some traditional French cafés.
Examples in context
- Bonjour jeune homme, j'espère que vous passez une excellente journée.Hello young man, I hope you're having a great day.
Example conversation
Léa greets Hugo on the street.
- HugoBonjour garçon, tu vas à l'école ?Hello boy, are you going to school?
- LéaOui, je vais en classe.Yes, I am going to class.
- HugoC'est super, Hugo !That's great, Hugo!
- LéaMerci beaucoup, Léa.Thank you very much, Léa.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonjour, garçon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
