salut
/sa.ly/informal
In French, the English phrase hello can be expressed as salut. Wiktionary also lists coucou.
Meaning: greeting (intj)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| salut | /sa.ly/ | informal |
| coucou | /ku.ku/ | informal |
In informal settings, salut is versatile and can be used both for 'hello' and for 'goodbye'.
Which one should you use?
While salut is a standard informal greeting, coucou is a more colloquial and often cute way to say 'hey' or 'hi there'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
salut is an informal term. You should avoid using salut in formal situations, such as with a boss or a stranger, where bonjour (meaning hello or good day) would be more appropriate. coucou is even more casual and is frequently used with children or close friends.
How do you pronounce it?
/sa.ly/
When do people say it?
coucou is often used in a cute manner with children or those very close to you. For a group of friends, you might say Salut les copains/copines to mean 'hi friends!'
Did you know?
- The word coucou is often used as a game of hide-and-seek with babies, similar to saying 'peek-a-boo' in English.
- While salut is a friendly greeting, the word salut also means 'salvation' in a religious context.
- While coucou is a popular way to say 'hi' among friends, it is also the exact name of the cuckoo bird in French.
Examples in context
- Salut à tous !Hello everyone!This sentence shows how to use salut to greet a group.Tatoeba #10625667 by felix63, translation #854117 by piksea
- Salut ma belle !Hello, beautiful!This sentence demonstrates using salut with a term of endearment.Tatoeba #594147 by sacredceltic, translation #1265548 by Jefepeters
- Salut mon vieux !Hello, old friend!This sentence shows salut being used with a friendly nickname.Tatoeba #1551225 by sacredceltic, translation #1549913 by miflhanc
- Bonjour, monsieur/madame!Hello, sir/madam!
- Coucou, ma puce!Hey there, cutie!
- 66 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Emma run into each other at a cafe.
- GabrielSalut Emma !Hello Emma!
- EmmaSalut Gabriel, ça va ?Hello Gabriel, how are you?
- GabrielÇa va bien, merci.I'm doing well, thanks.
- EmmaMoi 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.
