bonjour monsieur
bonjour monsieur is the French way to say hello sir.
bonjour monsieur is a common formal way to say hello sir in French. It is used specifically to address a man.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a combination of bon (good), jour (day) and monsieur (sir/mister).
Which one should you use?
Unlike the English 'hello', which can be used with anyone, bonjour monsieur specifically addresses a male and maintains a level of formal respect.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
bonjour monsieur is the standard polite way to greet a man in a formal or respectful setting.
Did you know?
- The word monsieur originally comes from the phrase 'my lord', combining mon and sieur.
- In France, failing to add monsieur or madame after bonjour when entering a shop can be perceived as impolite or abrupt.
- In many formal French service settings, such as high-end hotels, staff might actually omit the bonjour and simply use monsieur as a complete, respectful way to acknowledge a man.
Examples in context
- Bonjour Monsieur !Hello sir!This example shows how to use bonjour monsieur as a greeting.Tatoeba #482478 by sacredceltic, translation #644712 by Quonpi
- Bonjour Monsieur, comment allez-vous aujourd'hui?Hello sir, how are you today?
- Bonjour monsieur Dupont, je suis ravi de vous rencontrer.Hello Mr. Dupont, I'm delighted to meet you.
- Bonjour monsieur, comment allez-vous ?Hello sir, how are you?
- Bonjour monsieur, je voudrais un café.Hello sir, I would like a coffee.
Example conversation
Emma enters a small boutique and greets the shopkeeper.
- EmmaBonjour monsieur.Hello sir.
- HugoBonjour madame, je peux vous aider ?Hello ma'am, can I help you?
- EmmaOui, je cherche un cadeau.Yes, I am looking for a gift.
- HugoTrès bien, regardez par ici.Very well, look over here.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonjour, monsieur, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
