Greetings and politeness in French
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on. Play the ten French words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 French phrases in this lesson
- Salutsah-LEW
- Hello
- Bonjourbon-ZHOOR
- Good morning
- Bonsoirbon-SWAHR
- Good evening
- Au revoiroh ruh-VWAR
- Goodbye
- À plusa PLOOS
- See you
- S'il vous plaîtseel voo PLEH
- Please
- Mercimehr-SEE
- Thank you
- De rienduh RYEN
- You're welcome
- Désoléday-zo-LAY
- Sorry
- Excusez-moiex-kew-zay MWAH
- Excuse me
- Enchantéahn-shahn-TAY
- Nice to meet you
The casual hello, for friends and people your own age. To a stranger, in a shop or to anyone older, always open with bonjour, the next card.
Literally "good day", and the greeting for the whole morning and afternoon. Entering a shop without a bonjour is a small but real rudeness in France.
Takes over from bonjour from about six in the evening, on arrival as well as on parting.
The standard farewell in all contexts. Literally "until we see each other again." For casual goodbyes between friends, "salut" works as both hello and goodbye.
Short for à plus tard (see you later), and in texts just "A+". Au revoir is the polite goodbye.
The formal form of "please," using vous. With close friends you can say "s'il te plaît." Always add this when ordering or making a request.
Simple, everyday thanks. Perfectly polite on its own. Adding "bien" (merci bien) adds slight warmth without being excessive.
The standard reply to merci. Literally "it is nothing." In more formal contexts you may hear "je vous en prie," which is more ceremonious.
The real apology. A woman writes désolée, said the same. For a small bump, "pardon" (par-DOHN) is enough.
Use to get someone's attention or to apologize for a minor inconvenience. "Pardon" is also common and slightly softer when squeezing past someone.
Literally "enchanted". A woman writes enchantée, said the same.
Where French is spoken
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