salut
/sa.ly/
The English phrase 'hi' can be translated into French as salut.
salut translates to 'hi' and is used in informal situations. It is a common way to say 'hi' casually with friends, family or acquaintances.
Meaning: friendly, informal greeting (intj)
Which one should you use?
salut can be used as both a greeting (hi) and a farewell (bye) in informal settings. In contrast, bonjour is the standard, more polite way to say hello in formal or professional situations.
How do you pronounce it?
The word consists of 2 syllables and is pronounced /sa.ly/.
Did you know?
- The word salut shares its ancient roots with the English word 'salvation' and the Latin 'salus', meaning 'health' or 'well-being'.
- In many French-speaking African countries, the social protocols for greetings are often much more formal than the casual use of salut allowed in Paris.
- Even though it is casual, using salut to greet a stranger in a shop might be seen as slightly too 'familiar' or even disrespectful depending on the region.
Examples in context
- Salut à tous !Hi everyone!This sentence is useful for seeing how to use salut to greet a group.Tatoeba #10625667 by felix63, translation #13188716 by glossboss
- Salut, mon amie !Hi, my friend!This sentence is useful for seeing how to use salut when addressing a friend.Tatoeba #3270739 by Aiji, translation #3270741 by Ricardo14
- Salut, les mecs !Hi, guys.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use salut when addressing a group of guys.Tatoeba #5050011 by sacredceltic, translation #2561375 by Hybrid
- 63 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Nathan meet in a park.
- ManonSalut, Nathan !Hi, Nathan!
- NathanSalut, Manon. Ça va ?Hi, Manon. How are you?
- ManonÇa va très bien, merci.I am doing very well, thanks.
- NathanMoi aussi, ça va.Me too, I am fine.
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.
