What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of salut (hi/bye), mon (my) and ami (friend).
Which one should you use?
While salut, mon ami is informal, bonjour, mon ami is more formal and follows standard usage. For a more colloquial way to say "Hi, my friend," you might hear Bonjour, mon vieux or Bonjour, ma vieille.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Salut is an informal greeting. In more standard or formal situations, bonjour (which means "hello" or "good day") is more appropriate.
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing a female friend, you use the feminine form amie. Note that even when addressing a female, you still use mon instead of the feminine possessive because amie starts with a vowel.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes mistakenly believe that mon must change for a female friend. In reality, mon is used with the feminine amie only because amie starts with a vowel.
Did you know?
- In very close friendships, French speakers might use mon vieux or ma vieille instead of mon ami. These literally translate to 'my old' or 'my old woman', regardless of the person's actual age.
- The greeting salut is derived from the Latin word for 'health' or 'salvation'. In its original context, saying it was essentially wishing someone good health.
Examples in context
- Salut, mon ami, quel plaisir de te voir.Hi, my friend, what a pleasure to see you.
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel meet at a cafe.
- EmmaSalut, mon ami ! Ça fait longtemps.Hi, my friend! It has been a long time.
- GabrielSalut Emma ! Oui, c'est vrai.Hi Emma! Yes, that is true.
- EmmaTu veux boire quelque chose ?Do you want to drink something?
- GabrielOui, je veux bien, merci.Yes, I would like that, thanks.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ami, mon, salut, CC BY-SA 4.0.
