15 French Greeting Expressions and Etiquette

The French have very specific rules of politeness when it comes to greetings, such as saying bonjour (hello) and au revoir (goodbye). Using these greetings correctly will help you connect with locals and feel comfortable navigating French social etiquette.
This week, we will explore expressions used to greet people at different times of the day, helping you avoid cultural faux pas. Pronunciation tips are included.

Table of contents

1 - Saying Hello at Different Times of the Day

2- Saying Goodbye at Different Times of the Day

3- Different Ways to Say "See You Later"

4-How to ask How are you ? and to reply

5- La Bise, the kissing country

6- Greetings: Etiquette and Cultural Faux Pas to Avoid

7- Rudeness of the French : stereotypes and poll

1. Saying Hello at Different Times of the Day

Bonjour – Hello (you can use it until 6 p.m.) Bonjour literally translates to "good day" If you want to say hello a second time to someone you've already greeted that day, you say re-bonjour. To be even more polite, you can add “Madame” or “Monsieur,” for example: "Bonjour, Madame" or "Bonjour, Monsieur."

• 1.     Bonjour – Hello (you can use it until 6 p.m.) Bonjour literally translates to "good day" If you want to say hello a second time to someone you've already greeted that day, you say re-bonjour. To be even more polite, you can add “Madame” or “Monsieur,” for example: "Bonjour, Madame" or "Bonjour, Monsieur."

• 2.     Bonsoir - Good evening (used after 6 p.m.)
  Bonsoir translates to "good evening."

• 3.     Salut - Hi (quite informal, used in relaxed contexts)

• 4.     Coucou – Hey. Coucou is an affectionate, casual way to greet someone you know. It's not just for kids—people of all ages in France use coucou in informal situations.

2- Saying goodbye at different times of the day

• 5. Bonne journée – Have a good day
  Unlike bonjour, bonne journée is used when leaving a place before noon.

• 6. Bonne soirée – Have a good evening
  Similar to bonne journée, bonne soirée is used when leaving a place after 6 p.m.

• 7. Salut – Goodbye
  As mentioned earlier, salut can mean both "hello" and "goodbye" in informal settings.

  3- Different ways to say "see you later"

• 8. bientôt – See you soon
  This phrase works in both formal and casual contexts when you expect to see the person again soon. To be more specific, you can say à followed by the day, like “à mardi” “(see you on Tuesday”).

• 9. À tout à l’heure – See you soon
  Use this when you'll see the person again within a few hours.

• 10. À la prochaine – Until next time or See you next time
  This phrase is used when you're not sure when you'll meet the person again. For a more formal tone, say « à la prochaine fois »

4 - How to ask “how are you"? and to reply

• 11. Comment vas-tu? - How are you ?

• 12. Tu vas bien ? Vous allez bien ?- How are you ? Both expressions mean the same thing as "How are you?" but they are more personalized because they use the personal pronoun tu or vous. You use tu if you already know the person. Vous is more formal and should be used if you are addressing someone for the first time or if it is a stranger.

• 13. Ca va bien, merci - I'm doing well, thank you. “Ça va bien” is the easiest and most common phrase to use. Never answer by “ je suis bien” which a very common mistake

• 14. Je vais bien merci - I am doing well, thank you. The same expression as above, but more personalized as it begins with the personal pronoun Je

• 15. Et toi ? et Vous ? - And you ? If someone asks you how you are and you reply, "I'm fine, thank you," don't forget to return the question by saying, "And you?" (Et toi ? / Et vous ?)

5- La bise, the kissing country

In France, greetings often involve either a handshake or a kiss, though some may just wave—especially teenagers. La bise refers to the act of exchanging kisses on the cheeks.

Typically, two small kisses are exchanged: one on each cheek. These can be air kisses or real ones, sometimes accompanied by a subtle kissing sound. The number of kisses varies by region: two is the norm, but in some areas, people may exchange one, three, or even four kisses.

Historically, la bise has evolved. During the Middle Ages, only nobility exchanged kisses, often on the lips. In the 14th century, the practice declined due to epidemics but made a comeback after World War I. After the COVID-19 pandemic, la bise has cautiously returned as a common greeting.

6- Greetings: etiquette and cultural faux pas to avoid

Politeness is a cornerstone of French etiquette. Saying bonjour (hello), merci (thank you), and au revoir (goodbye) is expected when meeting someone, entering a store, or leaving a place. It’s considered quite rude to ask a question or make a request without first saying bonjour.

Expressions like s’il vous plaît (please), merci (thank you), and je vous en prie or de rien (you’re welcome) are essential in daily interactions. For instance, greeting strangers in elevators may feel unusual at first, but it's part of the French way of life. Failing to follow these polite conventions—such as entering a shop without greeting the salesperson.

7- Rudeness of the French : stereotypes and poll

Despite these specific rules of politeness, the stereotype of French rudeness persists. Foreigners often perceive French people as rude during interactions in restaurants, shops, or other service settings. Complaints often focus on bad temper, unhelpfulness, or a lack of customer service. The "French straightforwardness" also contributes to this perception.

While stereotypes should be taken with a grain of salt, they often contain a kernel of truth. A study by the language learning platform Preply found that over two-thirds of French people (68%) agree that this stereotype is somewhat accurate.

Interestingly, Paris doesn't top the rankings for impoliteness. Lyon takes the lead (9.41/10), followed by Marseille (9.26) and Nice (9.08), with Paris coming in fourth (9/10). Common acts of incivility cited include being engrossed in phones, being noisy, failing to let passengers disembark public transport, and reckless driving near pedestrian crossings.

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