Which one should you use?
While bonjour is the standard greeting for the day, once the afternoon transitions into evening, typically around 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM, you should switch to bonsoir, which means "good evening".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
bonjour is appropriate for all social situations, whether you are speaking to a stranger, a boss or a friend. For even more informal or affectionate ways to say hello, you might use salut or coucou.
How does it change in a sentence?
In formal settings, it is common and polite to follow bonjour with a person's title, such as bonjour madame (hello madam) or bonjour monsieur (hello sir). You can also use the phrase Bonjour, comment ça va [insert name]? to say "Hello, how are you [name]?"
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /bɔ̃.ʒuʁ/.
Did you know?
- In many French-speaking cultures, saying 'bonjour' while entering a small shop is not just a greeting but a mandatory social ritual. Failing to say it to a shopkeeper can be perceived as a significant snub.
- The word 'jour' in 'bonjour' shares a common ancestor with the English word 'journey', both relating to the concept of a 'day's work' or travel.
- While bonjour is used for greeting, the phrase bonne journée is used specifically when leaving to wish someone a 'good day' for the remainder of their time.
Examples in context
- Bonjour, comment allez-vous ?Hello, how are you?
- Bonjour tout le monde !Hello everyone!
- Bonjour, je voudrais un café.Hello, I would like a coffee.
Example conversation
Nathan enters a small bakery where Chloé is working.
- NathanBonjour, Chloé !Hello, Chloé!
- ChloéBonjour Nathan, tu vas bien ?Hello Nathan, are you doing well?
- NathanOui, très bien, merci.Yes, very well, thank you.
- ChloéTant mieux !That is good to hear!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bonjour, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
