Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| salut | /sa.ly/ | informal |
| coucou | /ku.ku/ | informal |
The words provided are used for informal greetings. Salut is a common way to say hi or hello among friends. It is also versatile, as it can be used both to say hello and to say goodbye in informal settings. Coucou serves as an informal and playful greeting, similar to saying hey or hi in English.
Which one should you use?
While both are informal, salut is a standard way to say hi or hello, whereas coucou is a more colloquial and affectionate greeting often used among close friends, family or when addressing children.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both salut and coucou are informal. Coucou is specifically colloquial and carries a more affectionate tone. For a standard way to say hello, Bonjour is the most widely used, while Bonsoir is used for good evening as it gets closer to evening or night. For a very casual and slangy option, one might use Yo!
How do you pronounce it?
/sa.ly/
When do people say it?
When greeting a group of friends, you can use the phrase Salut les amis.
Did you know?
- The informal greeting salut shares the same linguistic root as the English word 'salvation', both stemming from the idea of being 'whole' or 'safe'.
- In French culture, saying bonjour when entering a small shop is often considered a mandatory social requirement rather than just a polite option.
- Using coucou can sometimes sound slightly patronizing or overly 'cute' if used with adults you are not very close to.
Examples in context
- Salut à tous !Hello everyone!This example shows how to use salut to greet everyone.Tatoeba #10625667 by felix63, translation #854117 by piksea
- Salut ma belle !Hello, beautiful!This example uses salut in a friendly, affectionate way.Tatoeba #594147 by sacredceltic, translation #1265548 by Jefepeters
- Salut mon vieux !Hello, old friend!This example uses salut to greet an old friend.Tatoeba #1551225 by sacredceltic, translation #1549913 by miflhanc
- 66 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo see each other in a park.
- EmmaSalut, Hugo !Hello, Hugo!
- HugoSalut, Emma. Ça va ?Hello, Emma. How are you?
- EmmaÇa va bien, merci.I'm doing well, thanks.
- HugoMoi aussi, ça va.Me too, I'm fine.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations and entries salut, coucou, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries coucou, salut, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
