salut
/sa.ly/
The English phrase 'hello casually' is translated to French as salut.
salut is an informal greeting used with friends or people you know well. It can also function as an informal way to say goodbye.
Which one should you use?
While salut can be used as both a hi and a bye, other options exist for different levels of intimacy: Coucou is a friendly and playful way to say hello between close friends or family and Coucou toi! is an affectionate and playful way to greet someone, often reserved for close friends or loved ones. For very informal greetings among younger generations and friends in urban areas, Yo is used. To ask how someone is doing as part of a casual greeting, you can use Ça va?
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase Salut les potes! is a casual way to greet friends used in some regions, particularly in specific neighborhoods of cities like Paris or Marseille.
How do you pronounce it?
/sa.ly/
Did you know?
- While salut is a casual greeting today, its root refers to 'salvation' or 'safety'. In a religious context, it is still used to refer to the saving of a soul.
- The word salut is a linguistic relative of the English word 'salute'. While English uses 'salute' for a formal military gesture, French uses salut for a relaxed greeting.
- Unlike bonjour, which is strictly for the daytime, salut can be used at any hour of the day or night without sounding strange.
Examples in context
- Salut, comment ça va ?Hi, how are you?
- Salut tout le monde !Hi everyone!
- Je lui ai dit salut.I said hello to him.
Example conversation
Chloé and Gabriel meet at a local park.
- ChloéSalut, Gabriel !Hi, Gabriel!
- GabrielSalut Chloé, ça va ?Hi Chloé, how are you?
- ChloéÇa va très bien, merci.I'm doing very well, thanks.
- GabrielSuper, je suis content de te voir.Great, I am happy to see you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry salut, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
