Salut, beauté
In French, 'hello gorgeous' is translated as Salut, beauté.
This is an informal and flirtatious greeting used to address someone whom the speaker finds very attractive.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the informal greeting Salut (hi/bye) and the noun beauté (beauty).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The use of Salut makes this greeting informal, making it suitable for friends or romantic interests rather than formal acquaintances.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, you may hear people say Salut, t'es ben beau/belle to mean 'Hello, you're really handsome/beautiful'. In Paris, you might come across the phrase Bonjour, t'es canon to say 'Hello, you're stunning'.
How does it change in a sentence?
While Salut, beauté is a direct translation, a more natural way to say 'hello gorgeous' to a woman is Salut, ma belle (Hi, my beautiful). To address a man as 'gorgeous' or 'handsome' in an informal, flirtatious way, you would use Salut, mon beau (Hi, my handsome).
Did you know?
- In Paris, the slang t'es canon uses a word for 'cannon' to describe someone as stunning. This implies the person's beauty is as powerful or explosive as a weapon.
- The word salut comes from the Latin word salūtem, meaning 'health'. Historically, greeting someone was a way of wishing them good health.
- Using Salut, beauté with a stranger in France is much riskier than in English, as it can be perceived as aggressive 'street flirting' rather than a light compliment.
Examples in context
- Salut, beauté !Hello, gorgeous!
- Salut, beauté, tu es ravissante.Hello, gorgeous, you look lovely.
- Il lui a dit : « Salut, beauté. »He said to her: "Hello, gorgeous."
Example conversation
Nathan meets Manon at a cafe.
- NathanSalut, beauté, tu m'as manqué.Hello, gorgeous, I missed you.
- ManonOh, merci Nathan, c'est très gentil.Oh, thank you Nathan, that is very kind.
- NathanTu es vraiment magnifique aujourd'hui.You look truly magnificent today.
- ManonTu sais toujours comment me faire sourire.You always know how to make me smile.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries beauté, salut, CC BY-SA 4.0.
