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French Greetings and Introductions
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Every French greeting you actually need, when to use tu and vous, and how to introduce yourself — with pronunciation notes.
The greetings that cover most situations
French greetings are smaller in number than English ones. Bonjour (hello / good morning) works from dawn to dusk, in shops, offices and on the phone. After about 6pm people switch to bonsoir (good evening). Salut is the casual hi for friends, and bonne nuit (good night) is only said when someone is going to bed.
Introducing yourself
To give your name, say Je m'appelle (literally "I call myself") or Je suis (I am): Je m'appelle Marie / Je suis Marie. To ask someone's name: Comment tu t'appelles ? (informal) or Comment vous appelez-vous ? (formal).
Tu vs vous — the register choice
French has two words for "you": tu for friends, family, children and close peers, and vous for strangers, older people, and formal situations — vous is also the plural "you all". When unsure, vous is the safer, more respectful choice, and French speakers often wait to be invited to use tu.
Ça va ? — asking how someone is
Ça va ? and Comment ça va ? mean "how's it going?" (informal); the formal version is Comment allez-vous ?. Everyday answers: Ça va bien, merci (fine, thanks), Très bien (very well), or Pas mal (not bad).
| Greeting | When to use it |
|---|---|
| bonjour | hello / good morning — all day, any register |
| salut | hi — casual, friends only |
| bonsoir | good evening — after ~6pm |
| bonne nuit | good night — when leaving / going to sleep |
| au revoir | goodbye |
| à bientôt | see you soon |