Learn essential French greetings, self-introductions, and basic conversation rules. Stand out with perfect politeness!
In French culture, politeness is paramount. It is considered extremely rude to start any interaction — even ordering coffee or buying a train ticket — without greeting the person first. Let's master our three core ways to say hello:
Meaning: Hello / Good morning / Good afternoon.
Usage: The most common, polite greeting used all day long until dusk.
Meaning: Good evening.
Usage: Used polite starting around 6 PM or dusk.
Meaning: Hi / Bye (informal).
Usage: Reserved strictly for close friends, family, and children. Never use this with a stranger or store clerk!
Look away. How do you say "Hello" during the day? What greeting is used at dusk? Recite the journal, soirée, and salute mnemonics.
1. At 7:00 PM, which greeting is most appropriate when entering a restaurant?
2. With whom should you use the greeting "Salut"?
3. Why is the 't' silent in "Salut"?
Now let's learn how to politely exit a conversation or wish someone well as they head to bed:
Meaning: Goodbye.
Usage: The standard, polite farewell for any situation.
Meaning: See you soon.
Usage: Used when you expect to see the person again soon.
Meaning: Good night.
Usage: Used ONLY just before going to sleep or leaving someone late at night who is heading to bed.
Look away. How do you say "Goodbye"? What is the expression for "See you soon"? Recite the re-viewing and nocturnal mnemonics.
1. What does the phrase "Au revoir" literally translate to?
2. If your friend is going home to sleep, which phrase is best?
3. Translate: "À bientôt"
To share your name in French, you have two simple options. Both are polite and extremely common:
Meaning: My name is...
Usage: The standard way to introduce yourself.
*Je m'appelle* literally translates to "I call myself..." (*Je* = I; *m'* = myself; *appelle* = call). Think of the English words appellation (a formal name or title) or appeal (to call upon someone).
Meaning: I am...
Usage: Used to declare who you are directly (e.g., "I am Arthur").
Look away. How do you say "My name is"? What does that phrase literally mean? Recite the appellation and sweet mnemonics.
1. What does "Je m'appelle" literally mean?
2. How would Pierre introduce himself directly using "I am"?
3. Which word means "I" in French?
Unlike modern English which uses "you" for everyone, French splits "you" into two distinct categories depending on who you are speaking to:
Usage: Use this ONLY with children, family members, pets, and close friends.
Usage: Use this with strangers, elders, store clerks, professionals, and anytime you are speaking to more than one person (y'all).
Think of Tu as the "Friendship Gate" — open, warm, and casual. Think of Vous as the "Formal Velvet Rope" — representing polite boundaries and respect. Calling a store clerk *tu* is a social slip-up that sounds overly familiar or rude!
Look away. When must you use "Vous"? Which word is for two close friends? Recite the friendship gate and velvet rope analogies.
1. You are checking into a hotel. Which word do you use for "you" to the clerk?
2. You are talking to your granddaughter. Which word do you use?
3. You are speaking to a group of three close friends. Which word must you use?
Depending on the Tu vs. Vous rule we just learned, you have two ways to ask someone their name:
Meaning: What is your name? (Informal — literally "How do you call yourself?")
Usage: Use with children, classmates, or in informal settings.
Meaning: What is your name? (Formal)
Usage: Use with elders, professionals, or strangers.
Notice how *vous appelez* is pronounced as [voo zah-play]. In French, when a word ending in a silent consonant (vous) is followed by a word starting with a vowel (appelez), they link together, and the silent consonant wakes up to make a soft "z" sound!
Look away. How do you ask a stranger their name? How do you ask a child? Explain the silent-Z liaison rule.
1. Which phrase should you say to a police officer to ask their name?
2. How is the link in "vous appelez" pronounced?
3. What does "Comment" mean?
Let's round out your introduction vocabulary with essential expressions of delight and courtesy:
Meaning: Nice to meet you / Delighted.
Usage: Said immediately after learning someone's name. They sound identical!
Meaning: Please (Formal — literally "If it pleases you").
Meaning: Please (Informal — literally "If it pleases thee").
Look away. How do you say "nice to meet you"? How do you say "please" formally? Recite the enchanted and pleasant mnemonics.
1. If a woman is writing "nice to meet you," which spelling should she select?
2. How do you write "please" to a waiter?
3. What does "S'il vous plaît" literally translate to?
To check on someone's well-being or answer how you are doing, French uses a highly flexible, short phrase:
Meaning: How are things going? / I am doing fine. (Informal)
Usage: A double-duty phrase. It can be a question, or a declaration.
Meaning: How is it going?
Usage: A slightly longer, friendly question.
Look away. How do you ask "How's it going?" in just two words? How do you answer "I'm doing fine" using the same words? Recite the advance mnemonic.
1. What does the word "va" mean in the phrase "Ça va"?
2. If someone asks you "Ça va?", what is the simplest way to say "Things are fine"?
3. Translate: "Comment ça va ?"
In France, close friends and family members do not usually shake hands or hug. Instead, they greet each other with la bise — exchanging light cheek kisses. You touch cheeks and make a light kissing sound in the air. Depending on the region of France, people exchange two, three, or even four kisses! With strangers and professionals, however, a firm handshake remains the golden rule.
Choose the most appropriate French greeting for each daily situation!
Ready to solidify these greetings into your daily memory practice?
Achieve total self-contained mastery by completing the three tiers below.
1. Which greeting is most appropriate when entering a bakery at 2:00 PM?
2. Which "you" should you use when greeting a doctor or a policeman?
3. What does "Au revoir" literally translate to?
4. How is the connection in "vous appelez" pronounced due to liaison?
1. Je m'elle Pierre. (My name is Pierre. Clue: complete the verb that means "I call myself")
2. S'il plaît. (Please — formal. Clue: write the word for formal "you")
3. Enchant ! (Nice to meet you. Clue: write the spelling used by a woman)
4. À bienôt. (See you soon. Clue: complete the word with the letters under the accent hat)
5. Ça ? (How's it going? Clue: write the word that means "goes")
1. Translate to a stranger: "What is your name?" (Clue: use the formal phrase)
2. Translate to a child: "Please." (Clue: use the informal phrase)
3. Translate: "I am Arthur. Nice to meet you." (Clue: Arthur is male)
4. Explain the difference between "Tu" and "Vous" and when to use each.
5. Translate: "Good night" (Clue: used before sleep)
1. B is correct. *Bonjour* is the correct polite daytime greeting. *Salut* is too informal; *Bonsoir* is for evening.
2. B is correct. Use *Vous* with professionals and strangers to show respect.
3. B is correct. *Au revoir* literally means "until seeing again" (re-viewing).
4. A is correct. The silent 's' in *vous* links with the vowel in *appelez* to make a soft "z" sound: [voo zah-play].
1. app (Je m'appelle) — Double 'p' and double 'l' in the spelling.
2. vous (S'il vous plaît) — The formal please using the formal "you".
3. ée (Enchantée) — Feminine spelling adds an extra silent 'e'.
4. t (bientôt) — Spelled *bientôt* with a silent final 't'.
5. va (Ça va) — Literally translates as "That goes?".
1. Comment vous appelez-vous ?
2. S'il te plaît.
3. Je suis Arthur. Enchanté. (Enchanté has a single 'e' at the end because Arthur is male).
4. Explanation: *Tu* is singular and informal (family, close friends, children, pets). *Vous* is formal (strangers, professionals, elders) or plural (any group of two or more people).
5. Bonne nuit.