bonjour
/bɔ̃.ʒuʁ/
The English phrase "hi (formal)" is translated into French as bonjour.
bonjour is the most common and versatile way to say hello in French. It is a polite greeting that literally means "good day".
How does it change in a sentence?
In formal settings, bonjour is frequently paired with a title like madame or monsieur to increase the level of politeness.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables and is pronounced /bɔ̃.ʒuʁ/.
When do people say it?
In French culture, it is considered impolite to begin a conversation with a stranger, such as a shopkeeper or a waiter, without first saying bonjour.
Did you know?
- If you enter a shop and say nothing, the staff may treat you coldly, because the greeting is the expected key to starting an interaction.
- The component jour is the root of the English word 'journal', linking your morning greeting to the concept of a daily record.
- While bonjour means 'good day', it is rarely used as a way to say goodbye, for which the phrase bonne journée is used instead.
Examples in context
- Bonjour, Monsieur.Hello, sir.
- Bonjour, comment allez-vous ?Hello, how are you?
Example conversation
Hugo greets Emma at a business meeting.
- HugoBonjour, Emma.Hello, Emma.
- EmmaBonjour, Hugo.Hello, Hugo.
- HugoComment allez-vous aujourd'hui ?How are you doing today?
- EmmaJe vais très bien, merci.I am doing very well, thank you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bonjour, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonjour, CC BY-SA 4.0.
