bonjour monsieur
The English phrase "hello mister" is translated into French as bonjour monsieur.
bonjour monsieur is a polite greeting used when addressing a man.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bonjour (good day) and monsieur (sir/mister).
Which one should you use?
While bonjour monsieur is formal, salut is an informal way to say hello used only with friends or peers.
Did you know?
- In very formal French etiquette, addressing someone simply as monsieur without a name is considered more respectful than using their actual name and title together.
- In France, it is considered impolite to say bonjour to a shopkeeper or waiter without adding monsieur or madame.
- The word monsieur is a linguistic fossil that once meant 'my lord' or 'my master'. It evolved from the Old French 'mon sieur', a contraction of 'mon seigneur'.
Examples in context
- Salut, Monsieur Dupont. Ça fait longtemps!Hello, Mr. Dupont. Long time no see!
Example conversation
Hugo enters a bakery to buy a croissant.
- HugoBonjour monsieur !Hello sir!
- ManonBonjour ! Qu'est-ce que vous voulez ?Hello! What would you like?
- HugoUn croissant, s'il vous plaît.A croissant, please.
- ManonTrès bien, voilà.Very well, here it is.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonjour, monsieur, CC BY-SA 4.0.
