salut ma sœur
The English phrase "hi sister" is translated into French as salut ma sœur.
salut ma sœur is an informal greeting used when speaking to one's sister. In certain regions, you may also encounter the casual term frangine to refer to a sister.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "hi my sister". The word ma is the feminine singular possessive adjective meaning "my".
Which one should you use?
While salut ma sœur is an informal greeting, bonjour ma sœur is a more standard and neutral way to say "hello my sister".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
salut ma sœur is informal. The word salut is a casual way to say "hi" or "bye" that is typically used with friends or family members.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term frangine is a casual word used in some regions to refer to a sister.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because sœur is a feminine noun, you must use the feminine possessive adjective ma rather than the masculine mon.
Did you know?
- In a religious context, ma sœur is the standard way to address a Catholic nun, regardless of whether there is a familial relationship.
- In French, salut can be used as a noun to mean 'salvation' in a spiritual or religious sense, completely separate from its use as a greeting.
- The word salut is derived from the Latin salūtem, which referred to 'health' or 'wholeness'.
Examples in context
- Coucou, ma sœur !Hey there, sister!
- Bonjour, ma frangine.Good morning/afternoon, sis.
- Salut, ma p'tite sœur.Hi, little sister.
Example conversation
Gabriel walks into the living room where Chloé is sitting.
- ChloéSalut ma sœur, tu as vu mes clés ?Hi sister, have you seen my keys?
- GabrielSalut Gabriel, elles sont sur la table.Hi Gabriel, they are on the table.
- ChloéAh merci, je les cherche partout !Ah thanks, I've been looking everywhere for them!
- GabrielDe rien, fais attention la prochaine fois.You're welcome, be careful next time.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ma, salut, sœur, CC BY-SA 4.0.
