Bonjour, mon ami
The English phrase "hello, my friend" is translated into French as Bonjour, mon ami.
This phrase is a friendly greeting used to say hello to a person you know well. In French, adding mon ami to a greeting can sometimes sound slightly more formal or poetic than the English "my friend" used in casual conversation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bonjour (good day), mon (my) and ami (friend).
Which one should you use?
While Bonjour, mon ami uses the standard greeting, Salut, mon ami is a more casual way to say "Hi, my friend". Other informal variations include Salut, mon pote and the affectionate Coucou, mon ami(e), which is similar to saying "Hey there". You may also hear Salut, mon vieux, which translates literally as "Hello, my old (friend)".
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun ami changes to the feminine form amie if the friend is female, resulting in Bonjour, mon amie.
Did you know?
- The affectionate greeting coucou is often used with friends and family, but it is derived from the sound of the cuckoo bird.
- In French, greeting a friend with bonjour can be an entire conversation starter, and failing to say it before asking a question is considered very rude.
- The possessive mon in mon ami likely was influenced by the ancient Gaulish word mon, which existed before the Roman conquest of France.
Examples in context
- Salut, mon vieux, ça va ?Hi, my friend, how are you?
- Bonjour, mon ami, comment vas-tu ?Hello, my friend, how are you?
- Bonjour, mon ami, quel plaisir de te voir !Hello, my friend, what a pleasure to see you!
- Bonjour, mon ami, tu vas bien ?Hello, my friend, are you doing well?
Example conversation
Hugo meets Chloé at a café.
- HugoBonjour, mon ami ! Je suis content de te voir.Hello, my friend! I am happy to see you.
- ChloéMoi aussi, Hugo ! Tu vas bien ?Me too, Hugo! Are you doing well?
- HugoOui, tout va bien, merci.Yes, everything is fine, thank you.
- ChloéC'est super, asseyons-nous.That's great, let's sit down.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Bonjour, ami, bonjour, mon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
