Which one should you use?
While salut is used for 'hi', it is much more informal than bonjour, which is the standard way to say 'hello' to strangers or in professional settings. For more specific greetings, you might use bonjour to mean 'good day' during the day or bonsoir to mean 'good evening' once the evening begins.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
salut is an informal term suitable for peers and friends. For formal situations, such as speaking to strangers or in professional environments, use bonjour. If you are introducing yourself to new people, a polite response is enchanté (charmed or delighted). For extremely close friends or family, the even more informal coucou can be used to say 'hey there' or 'hiya'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase salut les gars, meaning 'hi guys', is used in informal settings among young people in France.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an interjection, salut does not change its form based on the gender or number of the people being greeted. For example, you can use bonjour tout le monde to say 'hello everyone' when addressing a large group.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /sa.ly/ in two syllables.
When do people say it?
When greeting a friend or someone you know well, you might use the phrase salut ça va? to mean 'hi, how are you?' In a group setting, bonjour tout le monde is used to address a general audience or a larger group.
Did you know?
- The word salut is actually a noun in other contexts, meaning 'salvation' or 'a salute', showing how a single sound can shift from a religious concept to a casual 'hi'.
- When using salut, French speakers often accompany the word with la bise, which is a social custom of kissing both cheeks.
- While salut is common, French has a specific word coucou for greeting people you are very close to. It mimics the sound of a cuckoo clock or a bird calling.
Examples in context
- Salut, comment ça va ?Hi, how is it going?
- Salut tout le monde !Hi everyone!
- Je lui ai dit salut.I said hi to him.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Emma meet in a park.
- GabrielSalut Emma !Hi Emma!
- EmmaSalut Gabriel, tu vas bien ?Hi Gabriel, are you doing well?
- GabrielOui, très bien, merci.Yes, very well, thanks.
- EmmaSuper, je suis contente pour toi.Great, I am happy for you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry salut, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
