How to Say “Say Hello” in French

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dire bonjour
To say hello in French is to dire bonjour.
The phrase is used to describe the action of greeting someone with a common word of welcome. While dire bonjour is the literal translation for the action, French speakers often use the verb saluer (to greet) to express the same intent in many social contexts. Depending on the time of day or the person you are greeting, the specific word used to say hello will change. For example, bonjour literally means "good day" and is the most common and standard way to greet someone, while bonsoir means "good evening" and is used to greet someone after dark.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of the verb dire (to say) and the noun bonjour (good day/hello).

Which one should you use?

While dire bonjour describes the literal act of saying hello, you might choose different words depending on the level of intimacy. Salut is an informal way to say hello, equivalent to "hi" or "hey", whereas coucou is an endearing and informal way to say hello among friends or family members. For very young people or specific social groups, yo may also be used as an informal greeting.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

The level of formality depends on the greeting chosen. Using salut instead of bonjour makes the greeting informal and is typically reserved for friends and family. Similarly, coucou is highly informal and endearing, while yo is an informal greeting used among certain social groups.

How does it change in a sentence?

When you say hello to a specific person, you must use the preposition à before the person's name or pronoun, as in dire bonjour à [quelqu'un].

When do people say it?

French speakers use different greetings based on the time of day and their relationship with the person. Bonjour is the standard greeting for most situations, but one should switch to bonsoir once it is dark. Among close friends and family, more endearing or informal terms like salut or coucou are common.

Did you know?

  • In French culture, it is often considered quite rude to start a conversation in a shop or with a stranger without first saying bonjour, regardless of how brief the interaction is.
  • The greeting coucou is actually an onomatopoeia, mimicking the sound of a cuckoo bird to create a sense of playful familiarity.
  • The verb dire in the phrase dire bonjour comes from a root that originally meant 'to show' or 'to point out' rather than just 'to speak'.

Examples in context

  • N'oublie pas de dire bonjour.
    Don't forget to say hello.
  • Il faut dire bonjour au professeur.
    You must say hello to the teacher.
  • Je vais lui dire bonjour.
    I am going to say hello to him.

Example conversation

Gabriel and Chloé are arriving at a friend's house.

  1. Gabriel

    On doit dire bonjour à tout le monde.
    We should say hello to everyone.
  2. Chloé

    Oui, je vais dire bonjour en premier.
    Yes, I will say hello first.
  3. Gabriel

    Tu es très polie, Chloé.
    You are very polite, Chloé.
  4. Chloé

    C'est la moindre des choses.
    It's the least I can do.

Sources

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Jennie Carla
Jennie CarlaHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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