What does it mean word for word?
The portion comment se passe ta journée ? literally translates to "how is your day passing?"
Which one should you use?
While salut, comment se passe ta journée ? is more casual and specific to the day, the phrase Bonjour, comment allez-vous ? is a standard formal greeting.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form salut, comment se passe ta journée ? is informal, suitable for friends or peers because it uses salut. For formal situations, you can use Bonjour, comment se passe votre journée ?, Bonjour, comment allez-vous aujourd'hui ? or Bonjour, votre journée se passe bien ? Informal alternatives include Salut, comment ça va aujourd'hui ?, Coucou, ça se passe bien ta journée ? and Salut, tu passes une bonne journée ?
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase formal or to address a group, replace the possessive adjective ta with votre, as seen in comment se passe votre journée ?
When do people say it?
The greeting Bonjour is used in the morning and afternoon.
Did you know?
- The word salut actually shares its distant roots with the English word 'whole', originating from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'complete' or 'healthy'.
- In many French-speaking regions, using salut to mean 'hi' is common, but the same word can also mean 'bye' when leaving a group of friends.
- The word se in se passe is a reflexive pronoun, which is why the French say the day 'passes itself' rather than just 'is passing'.
Example conversation
Hugo and Chloé meet at a cafe during their lunch break.
- HugoSalut, comment se passe ta journée ?Hi, how is your day going?
- ChloéÇa va très bien, merci Hugo !It's going very well, thanks Hugo!
- HugoTant mieux ! Tu es disponible pour déjeuner ?That's great! Are you free for lunch?
- ChloéOui, je t'accompagne avec plaisir.Yes, I'd love to join you.
