Bonjour maman
The English phrase "hello mom" is translated into French as Bonjour maman.
This phrase is a greeting used when speaking to one's mother.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bon (good), jour (day) and maman (mom).
Which one should you use?
While Bonjour maman is a standard greeting, Salut maman is a more casual way to say "Hi mom". Additionally, Bonjour mère is much more formal and can sound emotionally distant compared to the affectionate Bonjour maman.
Did you know?
- The word maman is what linguists call a 'nursery word', originating from the instinctive, repetitive sounds made by infants. Because of this, it is a universal term of affection that exists in many unrelated languages.
- The greeting bonjour contains the word jour, which is the root of the English word 'journal'. Both words share the same origin related to the concept of a day.
- Because bonjour literally means 'good day', using it after sunset can feel slightly unnatural to a native speaker, who would prefer an evening-specific greeting.
Examples in context
- Bonjour maman, ça va ?Hello mom, how are you?This sentence is useful for seeing how to follow up a greeting to Bonjour maman by asking how someone is doing.Tatoeba #9033351 by carlosalberto, translation #9033328 by carlosalberto
- Bonjour, ma chère maman.Hello, my dear mom.
- Salut, ma petite maman.Hi, my little mom.
- Coucou, ma douce maman.Hey, my sweet mom.
- Bonjour, maman. Comment vas-tu aujourd'hui?Hello, mom. How are you today?
- Salut, maman! Tu es magnifique aujourd'hui.Hi, mom! You look beautiful today.
- Coucou, maman! Qu'est-ce qu'on mange pour le dîner?Hey, mom! What are we having for dinner?
- Bonjour maman, tu as passé une bonne journée ?Hello mom, did you have a good day?
- Bonjour maman, je t'ai apporté des fleurs.Hello mom, I brought you some flowers.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma walks into the kitchen where her mother is.
- EmmaBonjour maman, tu as vu mon sac ?Hello mom, have you seen my bag?
- NathanIl est dans le salon, Emma.It is in the living room, Emma.
- EmmaMerci beaucoup !Thank you very much!
- NathanDe rien, ma chérie.You're welcome, my dear.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Bonjour, bonjour, maman, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
