Salut
/sa.ly/
The French phrase for hi to a girl is Salut.
Which one should you use?
While Salut is informal, Bonjour is the standard, more polite way to say 'hello' to a girl if you do not know her well or are in a formal setting.
How does it change in a sentence?
In French, Salut is an interjection and does not change its form based on the gender of the person you are addressing.
Did you know?
- Although it is used to greet people, the root of Salut is actually the same as the English word 'salvation'. It originally meant 'safety' or 'health' in a religious or formal context.
- Depending on the region, Salut may be accompanied by la bise, the custom of kissing both cheeks, which is common between female friends or a man and a woman.
- The word Salut can also be used to say 'bye' when leaving a group of friends. It serves as a dual-purpose greeting and farewell in informal settings.
Examples in context
- Salut, tu vas bien ?Hi, are you doing well?
- Salut, je m'appelle Marie.Hi, my name is Marie.
- Salut ! On va au cinéma ?Hi! Are we going to the cinema?
Example conversation
Gabriel sees Chloé at the park.
- ChloéSalut, Chloé !Hi, Chloé!
- GabrielSalut, Gabriel !Hi, Gabriel!
- ChloéTu vas bien ?Are you doing well?
- GabrielOui, ça va très bien.Yes, I am doing very well.
Sources
- Pronunciation from the Wiktionary entry salut.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries salut, CC BY-SA 4.0.
