salut
/sa.ly/
In French, the phrase "hi and bye" is expressed as salut.
salut is an informal greeting used both when arriving and when leaving.
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, where 'hi' and 'bye' are distinct words, salut can be used for both arriving and departing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The word salut is informal and should be avoided in professional or formal settings. bonjour is a common way to greet someone in a formal or professional setting, and bonsoir is a formal greeting used when meeting someone in the evening or at night.
How do you pronounce it?
/sa.ly/
Did you know?
- The concept of 'salvation' in English shares a linguistic ancestor with the French salut, as both derive from the idea of being 'whole' or 'saved'.
- When using salut with a close friend, it is often accompanied by la bise, the custom of kissing on the cheeks.
- In English, you might 'salute' a soldier, but in French, using salut to greet a superior would be seen as a sign of disrespect rather than a military gesture.
Examples in context
- Salut, comment ça va ?Hi, how's it going?
- Salut, à demain !Bye, see you tomorrow!
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan pass each other in a hallway.
- EmmaSalut, Nathan !Hi, Nathan!
- NathanSalut, Emma. Tu vas bien ?Hi, Emma. Are you doing well?
- EmmaOui, merci. À plus tard !Yes, thanks. See you later!
- NathanSalut, à bientôt.Bye, see you soon.
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.
