salut
/sa.ly/
In French, the phrase hi to a friend is expressed as salut.
salut is an informal way to say hi to friends in casual conversations. salut can be used both as a greeting when arriving and as a way to say goodbye when leaving.
Which one should you use?
While salut is used for friends, bonjour is the standard, more polite way to say hello to strangers or in professional contexts. If you want to be more playful and affectionate, you might use coucou, which is similar to saying "hey" in English. For a friendly greeting that also asks how the person is doing, you can use Bonjour, ça va?, meaning "hello, how are you?"
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, particularly in Quebec, Allô is commonly used as a greeting among friends.
How do you pronounce it?
/sa.ly/
Did you know?
- In a formal or religious context, salut can refer to 'salvation', much like the English word 'salvation' refers to being saved from sin.
- The word salut shares the same root as the English word 'salute'. While 'salute' in English usually implies a formal military gesture, salut is the most relaxed way to greet a friend in France.
- In Quebec, Allô is used as a general 'hi' to friends, whereas in France, Allô is used almost exclusively when answering the telephone.
Examples in context
- Salut, comment ça va ?Hi, how are you?
- Salut tout le monde !Hi everyone!
- Salut, ça fait longtemps.Hi, it has been a long time.
Example conversation
Manon and Nathan meet at a local park.
- ManonSalut, Nathan !Hi, Nathan!
- NathanSalut, Manon. Tu vas bien ?Hi, Manon. Are you doing well?
- ManonOui, merci. Et toi ?Yes, thanks. And you?
- NathanÇa va très bien.I am doing very well.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry salut, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
