Bonsoir
evening, night
After dusk French speakers say Bonsoir for "hello". Bonjour is for the day, and it sounds odd when used late in the evening. It is also called salut.
Meaning: evening greeting (interjection)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| Bonsoir | evening, night |
| salut | informal |
Bonsoir is a greeting that can be used from late afternoon until you go to bed. Salut works at any time with friends.
Which one should you use?
Bonne nuit is not a hello. It is only said when someone goes to sleep or when you part for the night.
How do you pronounce it?
Bonsoir sounds like "bon-SWAR" with a nasal on.
Did you know?
- The word bonsoir is used for both "hello" and, less often, "goodbye" in the evening.
Examples in context
- Bonsoir, tout le monde!Good evening, everyone!
- Salut, ça va ce soir?Hi, how are you this evening?
Example conversation
Sophie arrives at a restaurant in Paris at nine in the evening and the host Marc greets her.
- MarcBonsoir, madame.Good evening, madam.
- SophieBonsoir, j'ai réservé une table.Good evening, I booked a table.
- MarcOui, suivez-moi.Yes, follow me.
