French Greetings, the Complete System: Words, Bise and Etiquette
Every French greeting and the etiquette around it: bonjour rules, salut, la bise, handshakes, madame vs monsieur, and what to answer. One complete guide.
French greetings center on bonjour (hello - mandatory politeness in shops and services), bonsoir (evening), and salut (hi, informal). Etiquette matters as much as words: greet before any request, add madame or monsieur, shake hands in professional settings, and exchange la bise - cheek kisses - with friends.
This is the complete system: the core words, the etiquette that goes with them, and a scenario playbook for real situations - bakery, dinner party, video call, office morning.
Quick answer
French greetings center on bonjour (hello - mandatory politeness in shops and services), bonsoir (evening), and salut (hi, informal). Etiquette matters as much as words: greet before any request, add madame or monsieur, shake hands in professional settings, and exchange la bise - cheek kisses - with friends.
The full greeting system, with native audio for every word. Get it on the App Store or Google Play.
The core greeting words
| Word | Pronunciation | Register |
|---|---|---|
| bonjour | /bohn-ZHOOR/ | universal, daytime |
| bonsoir | /bohn-SWAHR/ | universal, evening |
| salut | /sah-LÜ/ | informal |
| coucou | /koo-KOO/ | very informal |
| allô | /ah-LOH/ | phone only |
For the full 10-greeting inventory with all the situational nuance, see 10 ways to say hello in French and casual ways to say hi in French.
The bonjour rule: greeting as social contract
In France, greeting isn’t decoration - it’s the price of entry into any interaction, in shops, elevators, waiting rooms, doctors’ offices. Say bonjour before your request, every time, no exceptions. Skipping it doesn’t just seem impolite - it genuinely reads as if you don’t see the other person as a person first. Adding madame or monsieur is an easy upgrade.
Madame, Monsieur, and names
Bonjour madame or bonjour monsieur works without needing a name at all - unlike English “Mrs. X,” French politeness titles stand alone. Mademoiselle has been phased out of official administrative use, though it’s still heard socially in some contexts. First names generally arrive together with tu - see using tu vs vous correctly for the full logic.
La bise: the cheek-kiss protocol
Who: friends and family, and social acquaintances - not typically first professional meetings, where a handshake is the default. How many: it genuinely varies by region, commonly two but sometimes up to four - there’s no single national rule. Who initiates: follow the other person’s lead if you’re unsure. Between men outside close circles, a handshake remains the more common default than la bise.
For the complete, dedicated etiquette breakdown, see la bise, the French cheek-kiss greeting explained.
Asking how someone is (+ responses)
Ça va ? covers both question and answer - see how are you in French for the full reply bank, from très bien to a resigned bof.
Saying goodbye
Au revoir plus a bonne-wish (bonne journée, bonne soirée) covers nearly every exit; salut works both directions with friends. Full family: every way to say goodbye in French and casual ways to say bye.
Greetings by scenario (the playbook)
- Bakery: Bonjour ! Une baguette, s’il vous plaît. - Bonjour ! Voilà, deux euros s’il vous plaît. - Merci, au revoir !
- Meeting the in-laws: Bonjour madame, enchanté(e) de vous rencontrer.
- Video call: Bonjour tout le monde, vous m’entendez bien ?
- Dinner party arrival: Salut ! (bise or handshake depending on the group) - Ça sent bon !
- Office morning: Bonjour ! Bien dormi ?
Time-of-day logic recap
Bonjour covers daytime through late afternoon; bonsoir takes over around 6pm. Never say bonne nuit to someone who isn’t heading to bed - and don’t say a plain bonjour a second time to the same person in one day; use re instead. Greetings feel like a small detail, but in France they’re the door every other conversation walks through.
Greetings, fully mapped
LexiFr teaches the words and the etiquette together, with native audio, so every greeting lands right.
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Questions about this note
What is the most common French greeting?
Bonjour - and it's socially required, not optional, in shops and services.
How many cheek kisses in France?
Usually two, but it genuinely varies by region - some areas do three or four.
Do the French hug?
Rarely as a greeting - la bise or a handshake is the default; hugs read as more intimate.
Should I say madame or mademoiselle?
Madame is the safe modern default; mademoiselle is retired from official/administrative use, though still heard socially.
How do you greet in a French business email?
Bonjour + name, or Madame/Monsieur for a formal opening to someone you don't know.