Basic French: Common Greetings and Farewells

Introduction

In this lesson, we'll learn important words and phrases for saying hello and goodbye in French. Knowing how to greet people and say goodbye is very important when making conversations. Let’s look at some common expressions and how to use them!

Greetings

French greetings can change based on the time of day and how formal you want to be. Here are some greeting phrases you can use:

1. Bonjour (Hello / Good morning)

   • Use this in the morning and early afternoon.
   • Example: Bonjour, Marie! (Hello, Marie!)

2. Bonsoir (Good evening)

   • Use this greeting in the evening to be polite.
   • Example: Bonsoir, Monsieur Dupont. (Good evening, Mr. Dupont.)

3. Salut (Hi)

   • This is a casual greeting used with friends and younger people.
   • Example: Salut, Pierre! (Hi, Pierre!)

4. Ça va? (How are you?)

   • This is a friendly way to ask how someone is doing.
   • Example: Ça va, Sophie? (How are you, Sophie?)

5. Enchanté(e) (Nice to meet you)

   • Use this when meeting someone for the first time. If you are a girl, add an "e" for "Enchantée."
   • Example: Enchanté, Jean! (Nice to meet you, Jean!)

Farewells

Saying goodbye is just as important as greeting people. Here are some common ways to say goodbye:

1. Au revoir (Goodbye)

   • This is the typical way to say goodbye in French.
   • Example: Au revoir, mes amis! (Goodbye, my friends!)

2. À bientôt (See you soon)

   • Use this when you plan to see the person again soon.
   • Example: À bientôt, Luc! (See you soon, Luc!)

3. À demain (See you tomorrow)

   • Use this when you will see someone the next day.
   • Example: À demain, Sophie! (See you tomorrow, Sophie!)

4. À tout à l'heure (See you later)

   • Use this when you will meet again later that same day.
   • Example: À tout à l'heure, Marc! (See you later, Marc!)

5. Salut (Bye)

   • This is a friendly way to say goodbye.
   • Example: Salut, Clara! (Bye, Clara!)

Vocabulary Practice

To help you remember, here are some key words to practice:

• Bonjour (Hello)
• Bonsoir (Good evening)
• Salut (Hi)
• Au revoir (Goodbye)
• À bientôt (See you soon)
• Enchanté(e) (Nice to meet you)

Sample Dialogues

Here are examples to show how to use these greetings and farewells in a conversation.

Dialogue 1: Meeting someone new

• Alice: Bonjour, je m'appelle Alice. (Hello, my name is Alice.)
• Paul: Enchanté, Alice! Je suis Paul. (Nice to meet you, Alice! I am Paul.)

Dialogue 2: Parting ways

• Claire: À bientôt! (See you soon!)
• Emma: Au revoir, Claire! (Goodbye, Claire!)

Conclusion

Knowing these greetings and goodbyes is very helpful for having basic conversations in French. Practice these phrases with your friends or family to gain confidence and improve your speaking skills. As we keep learning, we will explore more words about everyday activities, family, food, and places in town. Happy learning!