bonjour monsieur, comment allez-vous ?
The English phrase "hello sir, how are you?" is translated into French as bonjour monsieur, comment allez-vous ?
This phrase is a standard way to greet a man and inquire about his well-being. While it is a polite and standard expression, if you are in a very casual setting with friends, you might hear the slang expression ça gaze? to mean "how's it going?"
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase means "good day sir, how go you?" because the expression for well-being uses the verb aller (to go) rather than the verb "to be".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form bonjour monsieur, comment allez-vous ? is formal. It is the appropriate choice when speaking to strangers, elders or in professional environments.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not say comment êtes-vous ? when asking how someone is. English speakers often make this mistake by translating the English verb "are" literally, but in French, you must use the verb aller (to go) to express well-being.
When do people say it?
When someone greets you with this phrase, a common polite response is Je vais bien, merci. Et vous ? (I am doing well, thank you. And you?).
Did you know?
- The word monsieur is a contraction of two words that originally meant 'my lord'. It comes from the combination of mon (my) and a reduced form of sire, which shares roots with the Latin word for 'elder'.
- In formal French, omitting monsieur when greeting a stranger or a superior can be perceived as an intentional sign of rudeness or coldness.
- Unlike in English, where 'How are you?' is often a rhetorical greeting, a formal comment allez-vous ? may invite a more sincere and detailed response about one's health.
Examples in context
- Bonjour, Monsieur, comment allez-vous ?Hello sir, how are you?
- Bien le bonjour, Monsieur, comment vous portez-vous ?Good day, sir, how are you?
Example conversation
Gabriel greets his boss at the office.
- GabrielBonjour monsieur, comment allez-vous ?Hello sir, how are you?
- ChloéJe vais très bien, merci Gabriel.I am doing very well, thank you Gabriel.
- GabrielC'est une excellente nouvelle.That is excellent news.
- ChloéEntrons maintenant dans le bureau.Let's go into the office now.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonjour, comment, monsieur, CC BY-SA 4.0.
