Greetings & Introductions

Knowing how to greet people and introduce yourself is essential for any interaction in French. This lesson covers formal and informal greetings, the crucial tu vs. vous distinction, and how to introduce yourself naturally.

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Basic Greetings

French	English	When to Use
Bonjour	Hello / Good day	From morning until about 6pm; the all-purpose greeting
Bonsoir	Good evening	From about 6pm onwards
Salut	Hi / Hey	Informal, with friends and family
Coucou	Hey there	Very informal, close friends, children
Bonne nuit	Good night	Only when someone is going to sleep

Bonjour — The Essential Greeting

Bonjour is the most important word in French etiquette. You should say it:

• When entering a shop: "Bonjour !" (to the shopkeeper)
• When meeting anyone for the first time that day
• When arriving at work
• When starting a phone call
• When approaching someone to ask a question

Cultural Note: In France, failing to say bonjour before speaking to someone is considered rude. Always greet first, then ask your question or make your request.

Pronunciation Guide

Word	Phonetic	Notes
Bonjour	bohn-ZHOOR	Nasal "on", stress on second syllable
Bonsoir	bohn-SWAHR	Nasal "on", "soir" rhymes with "car"
Salut	sah-LEW	The t is silent; the u is the French u
Coucou	koo-KOO	Simple "oo" sounds
Bonne nuit	bun-NWEE	Nasal vowel absent (bonne = "bun")

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Saying Goodbye

French	English	Formality
Au revoir	Goodbye	Standard, all situations
Salut	Bye	Informal (same word as "hi")
À bientôt	See you soon	Neutral
À demain	See you tomorrow	Neutral
À plus tard	See you later	Neutral
À plus	See you (shortened)	Informal
Bonne journée	Have a good day	Polite, when parting during the day
Bonne soirée	Have a good evening	Polite, when parting in the evening
Bonne nuit	Good night	When someone is going to sleep
Adieu	Farewell	Very formal or dramatic; implies you may not meet again

Tip: When leaving a shop or restaurant, say Merci, au revoir ! or Merci, bonne journée ! It is considered polite to combine thanks with farewell.

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Tu vs. Vous: The Great Divide

French has two words for "you": tu (informal) and vous (formal). Using the wrong one can cause social awkwardness.

When to Use Tu

Situation	Example
Speaking to a friend	"Tu viens ce soir ?" (Are you coming tonight?)
Speaking to a family member	"Tu veux du café ?" (Do you want coffee?)
Speaking to a child	"Tu as quel âge ?" (How old are you?)
Speaking to a pet	"Tu es un bon chien !" (You are a good dog!)
Among young people (same age)	Often tu from the first meeting
When someone says "On peut se tutoyer"	They are inviting you to use tu

When to Use Vous

Situation	Example
Speaking to a stranger	"Vous parlez anglais ?" (Do you speak English?)
Speaking to an older person	"Comment allez-vous ?" (How are you?)
In professional settings	"Vous avez reçu mon email ?"
Speaking to a shopkeeper	"Vous avez ça en bleu ?" (Do you have this in blue?)
Speaking to a teacher / doctor	"Vous pouvez répéter ?" (Can you repeat?)
Addressing multiple people	"Vous êtes prêts ?" (Are you ready? — plural)

Important: Vous is always used for addressing more than one person, even if they are all close friends. Tu is always singular.

The Verb Changes

Pronoun	Être (to be)	Avoir (to have)	Aller (to go)
Tu	tu es	tu as	tu vas
Vous	vous êtes	vous avez	vous allez

Tu Form	Vous Form	Meaning
Tu es français ?	Vous êtes français ?	Are you French?
Tu as faim ?	Vous avez faim ?	Are you hungry?
Tu vas bien ?	Vous allez bien ?	Are you well?

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Introducing Yourself

Basic Introductions

French	English	Formality
Je m'appelle Marie.	My name is Marie.	All situations
Moi, c'est Pierre.	I'm Pierre.	Informal
Je suis Marc.	I am Marc.	Neutral
Enchanté(e).	Pleased to meet you.	Formal (add -e if you are female)
Ravi(e) de vous rencontrer.	Delighted to meet you.	Very formal
Ravi(e) de te rencontrer.	Delighted to meet you.	Informal

Asking Someone's Name