salut
/sa.ly/informal
In French, hello is 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 |
While salut is used to say hello, it is also used to mean goodbye in informal settings. For more standard greetings throughout the day, you might use Bonjour or use Bonsoir specifically in the evening.
Which one should you use?
salut is an informal way to say hello or hi. In contrast, coucou is a more colloquial and affectionate way to say hi there or hey.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
salut is an informal greeting. coucou is a colloquial, cute or affectionate way to say hello, often used with children or close friends. For formal situations, such as speaking to strangers, superiors or in professional settings, you should use the polite standard bonjour instead.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables and is pronounced /sa.ly/.
Did you know?
- The word salut shares a common ancestor with the English word 'whole', originating from a root meaning 'to be whole or healthy'.
- In France, it is considered impolite to enter a shop or bakery without saying bonjour to the shopkeeper first.
- In many French-speaking cultures, the greeting bonjour is often accompanied by 'la bise', the custom of exchanging light kisses on the cheeks.
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 shows how to use salut when addressing a woman affectionately.Tatoeba #594147 by sacredceltic, translation #1265548 by Jefepeters
- Salut mon vieux !Hello, old friend!This sentence shows how to use salut when addressing a male friend informally.Tatoeba #1551225 by sacredceltic, translation #1549913 by miflhanc
- Bonjour, enchanté(e).Hello, nice to meet you.
- Bonjour, je suis ravi(e) de faire votre connaissance.Hello, I'm delighted to make your acquaintance.
- Bonjour, je suis enchanté(e) de vous rencontrer.Hello, I'm delighted to meet you.
- Salut, enchanté(e)!Hi, nice to meet you!
- Coucou, ravi(e) de te rencontrer!Hey, delighted to meet you!
- 66 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Hugo run into each other at a café.
- ManonSalut Hugo !Hello Hugo!
- HugoSalut Manon, ça va ?Hello Manon, how are you?
- ManonÇa va bien, merci.I'm doing well, thanks.
- HugoMoi aussi, ça va.I'm doing well too.
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.
