salut
/sa.ly/
The French phrase for hi hello is salut.
salut is a commonly used informal greeting similar to the English hi or hey. Depending on the context, it can also be used to mean bye.
Which one should you use?
Unlike 'bonjour', which is formal and used during the day, salut is used only with friends, family or peers.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
salut is an informal greeting. Bonsoir is the equivalent of good evening and is used when greeting someone in formal settings during the evening or nighttime.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of salut is /sa.ly/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- While salut is a casual greeting, it shares a root with the word for 'salvation' or 'safety' in French. In a religious or formal context, le salut refers to the saving of a soul.
- In some regional dialects or very old-fashioned speech, a greeting like salut was historically linked to a physical gesture of salute, similar to a military salute.
- In France, using salut with a superior or a stranger can be perceived as a lack of respect. It is far more socially risky to use salut too early than to use bonjour too late.
Examples in context
- Salut, comment ça va ?Hi, how are you?
- Salut tout le monde !Hi everyone!
- Salut, tu viens avec nous ?Hi, are you coming with us?
Example conversation
Chloé and Gabriel meet in a park.
- ChloéSalut Gabriel !Hi Gabriel!
- GabrielSalut Chloé, ça va ?Hi Chloé, how are you?
- ChloéÇa va très bien, merci.I am doing very well, thanks.
- GabrielSuper, bonne journée !Great, have a good day!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry salut, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
