salut
/sa.ly/
In French, the phrase for hello to a friend is salut.
salut is a common and casual way to say hello to a friend, similar to the English 'hi' or 'hey'.
Which one should you use?
In informal settings, salut is versatile and can be used both to say hello and to say goodbye. Other options for greeting friends include Bonjour, which is used in a friendly, casual way or Coucou, which is a cute and affectionate expression used among close friends.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /sa.ly/.
When do people say it?
When greeting a friend, it is common to accompany the greeting with a kiss on both cheeks, a custom known as la bise.
Did you know?
- While salut is used for friends, the word salut is also the standard French word for 'salvation' in a religious context.
- Depending on the region in France, the number of kisses in la bise can vary from two to four, and starting on the left or right cheek depends on the local custom.
- The word salut originally shared a root with the English word 'whole', appearing in the phrase 'salutation' to mean a wish for someone's health or wholeness.
Examples in context
- Salut Julie, comment ça va ?Hi Julie, how are you?
- Salut, ça va ?Hi, how are you?
- Salut tout le monde !Hi everyone!
- Salut, tu viens ?Hi, are you coming?
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel meet at a cafe.
- LéaSalut, Gabriel !Hi, Gabriel!
- GabrielSalut, Léa. Tu vas bien ?Hi, Léa. Are you doing well?
- LéaOui, très bien, merci.Yes, very well, thank you.
- GabrielSuper, moi aussi.Great, me too.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry salut, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries salut, CC BY-SA 4.0.
