salut
/sa.ly/
The English phrase "hi" is translated into French as salut.
Salut is a popular and versatile informal greeting used to say "hi".
Meaning: friendly, informal greeting (intj)
Which one should you use?
While salut is used for both a greeting ("hi") and a parting ("bye") in informal settings, other words like Bonjour are standard for "hi" or "hello".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, Bon matin is used instead of Bonjour to greet someone in the morning and Bonsoir is used in some areas to say "good evening". In French Canadian, Bonjour is the most common way to say "hi" or "hello".
How do you pronounce it?
/sa.ly/
Did you know?
- While salut means 'hi', it is also the standard French word for 'salvation' or 'safety'. In a religious context, it refers to the saving of a soul from sin.
- The English word 'salute' shares the same ancestry as the French salut, though in English it has evolved into a formal military gesture.
- In some contexts, salut is used as a toast when drinking, similar to saying 'cheers'. This usage emphasizes the wish for the other person's health.
Examples in context
- Salut à tous !Hi everyone!This example shows the use of salut to greet a group.Tatoeba #10625667 by felix63, translation #13188716 by glossboss
- Salut, mon amie !Hi, my friend!This example shows the use of salut when addressing a friend.Tatoeba #3270739 by Aiji, translation #3270741 by Ricardo14
- Salut, les mecs !Hi, guys.This example shows the use of salut when greeting a group of guys.Tatoeba #5050011 by sacredceltic, translation #2561375 by Hybrid
- Bonjour Monsieur DupontHello, Mr. Dupont
- Bonjour Madame LefebvreHello, Mrs. Lefebvre
- Bonjour à tousHello everyone
- Bonjour! Comment ça va aujourd'hui?Hello! How are you today?
- Bonjour! Ça va très bien, merci. Et toi?Hello! I'm very well, thank you. And you?
- Salut! Tu viens à la fête ce soir?Hey! Are you coming to the party tonight?
- Coucou! Oui, avec plaisir!Hi! Yes, with pleasure!
- 63 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Léa run into each other at a park.
- NathanSalut, Léa !Hi, Léa!
- LéaSalut, Nathan ! Tu vas bien ?Hi, Nathan! Are you doing well?
- NathanOui, ça va super.Yes, I am doing great.
- LéaTant mieux, à plus tard !That's good, see you later!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hi” translations and entries salut, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
