salut, quoi de neuf
The English phrase "hey, what's up" is translated into French as salut, quoi de neuf.
This phrase is used as an informal greeting to ask someone how they are or to find out what is new in their life.
What does it mean word for word?
The part quoi de neuf literally translates to "what of new".
Which one should you use?
While salut, quoi de neuf is a standard way to greet someone, the shorter version quoi de neuf can be used on its own to specifically ask what has happened since you last saw a person.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The word salut is an informal way to say both "hi" and "bye". Because of this, the entire phrase salut, quoi de neuf is strictly informal and should be avoided in professional settings or when speaking to superiors.
When do people say it?
When someone asks quoi de neuf, a common response is Pas grand-chose, which means "not much".
Did you know?
- In French, neuf is a homonym that can mean both 'new' and the number 'nine'.
- The word salut shares its ancient roots with the English word 'whole', as both descend from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'complete' or 'uninjured'.
- The word salut is a linguistic relative of the English word 'salute'.
Examples in context
- Ça va?How's it going?
- Quoi de neuf?What's new?
- Salut, ça gaze?What's up?
- Salut, quoi de neuf ?Hey, what's up?
- Salut, quoi de neuf depuis la dernière fois ?Hey, what's new since last time?
- Alors, salut, quoi de neuf ?So, hey, what's up?
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel meet randomly in a park.
- EmmaSalut, quoi de neuf, Gabriel ?Hey, what's up, Gabriel?
- GabrielPas grand-chose, et toi, Emma ?Not much, and you, Emma?
- EmmaÇa va très bien, merci.I'm doing very well, thanks.
- GabrielSuper, je suis content pour toi.Great, I'm happy for you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, neuf, quoi, salut, CC BY-SA 4.0.
