Bonjour, comment allez-vous aujourd'hui ?
The English phrase "hello, how are you today?" is translated into French as Bonjour, comment allez-vous aujourd'hui ?
This phrase is a polite greeting used to ask someone about their current well-being. The first part, Bonjour, means "good day" or "hello".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "Hello, how go you today?" because the verb aller (to go) is used in French to express a state of being or health.
Which one should you use?
While Bonjour, comment allez-vous aujourd'hui ? is used in formal or plural contexts, the version Comment vas-tu ? is the informal way to ask "How are you?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Bonjour, comment allez-vous aujourd'hui ? is a formal or plural construction. For a much more casual way to say "Hello, how's it going?" among peers, you can use Salut, ça va ?
When do people say it?
A standard polite response to this question is Je vais bien, merci. Et vous ? (I am doing well, thank you. And you?).
Did you know?
- The word aujourd'hui is actually a tiny sentence masquerading as a single word. It is a contraction of several historical components, including au, jour, de, and the Latin-derived hui.
- In very formal French etiquette, you should never use Bonjour to greet someone after sunset. Once the sun goes down, you must switch to Bonsoir to remain polite.
- The word salut is an interesting hybrid because it can mean both 'hello' and 'goodbye' depending on when it is said.
Examples in context
- Bonjour, comment allez-vous aujourd'hui?Hello, how are you today?
- Salut, ça va aujourd'hui?Hi, how are you today?
Example conversation
Emma meets Lucas at a formal business conference.
- EmmaBonjour, comment allez-vous aujourd'hui ?Hello, how are you today?
- LucasJe vais très bien, merci.I am doing very well, thank you.
- EmmaJe suis ravie de vous voir, Lucas.I am delighted to see you, Lucas.
- LucasMerci, Emma. Et vous ?Thank you, Emma. And you?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Bonjour, aujourd'hui, bonjour, comment, CC BY-SA 4.0.
