salut
/sa.ly/
The English phrase "hi" is translated into French as salut.
salut is an informal greeting used among friends or acquaintances to say "Hi/Hello".
Meaning: friendly, informal greeting (intj)
Which one should you use?
In informal settings, salut can be used both as a greeting (hi) and as a parting (bye).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of southern France, Belgium and Switzerland, people may use salut as a formal greeting.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of salut is /sa.ly/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- While it is a common way to say 'hi', salut is also a noun that can mean 'a salute' or a 'salvation' in a religious context.
- The word salut shares an ancient root with the English word 'whole', as both stem from a concept of being 'healthy' or 'unbroken'.
- If you use salut with a superior or a stranger in a professional setting in France, you may appear unexpectedly casual or even disrespectful.
Examples in context
- Salut à tous !Hi everyone!Tatoeba #10625667 by felix63, translation #13188716 by glossboss
- Salut, mon amie !Hi, my friend!Tatoeba #3270739 by Aiji, translation #3270741 by Ricardo14
- Salut, les mecs !Hi, guys.Tatoeba #5050011 by sacredceltic, translation #2561375 by Hybrid
- Lucie: Bonjour, comment ça va ?Hi, how's it going?
- Thomas: Bonjour, ça va bien. Merci. Et toi ?Hi, it's going well. Thank you. And you?
- Sophie: Salut, on se voit ce soir ?Hi, are we meeting tonight?
- Julien: Coucou ! Oui, je serai là.Hey! Yes, I'll be there.
- 63 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas meet in a park.
- ChloéSalut, Lucas !Hi, Lucas!
- LucasSalut, Chloé. Ça va ?Hi, Chloé. How are you?
- ChloéÇa va bien, merci.I'm doing well, thanks.
- LucasMoi aussi, ça va.Me too, I'm good.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hi” translations and entries salut, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries salut, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
