How do French people greet each other?

"Bonjour" is the most common word used to greet a person in France. From a common language level, "bonjour" is used in everyday life, from sunrise to the beginning of the end of the day. Saying "bonjour" is a mark of politeness and it is well considered.

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How do you greet each other in French?

The most important French greetings include bonjour (hello), enchanté(e) (nice to meet you), bonsoir (good evening/hello), salut (hi), coucou (hey), Ça fait longtemps, dis donc (long time no see), Âllo (hello), Ça va? (how are you?), tu vas bien? (have you been well?), quoi de neuf? (what's up?), au revoir!

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What are 2 ways the French greet each other?

Adults say "tu" to children and kiss them on the cheek, even if they have just met for the first time. To greet people, you say "Bonjour". Among young people and students, "Salut" is used more frequently.

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How do French people greet each other first time?

As we mentioned at the beginning, a greeting is of great importance in France. If you go down the street , if you get on the bus, or enter a bakery, and you meet someone you see on a regular basis the most normal thing is to say “bonjour”, even if you don't really know the person.

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Do French people greet each other with a kiss?

Of Latin origin, the greeting kissing persists in countries where the culture of contact dominates, and this culture is deeply rooted in France. The French still greet each other by touching each other, kissing or shaking hands.

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How to greet people from different countries

27 related questions found

Is bonjour Hello or goodbye?

Bonjour means “hello,” or “good morning,” or “good afternoon,” while bonne journée means “have a good day.” So if you ran into someone at the grocery store one morning you would say, “bonjour” when you saw them and then, “bonne journée” when you parted ways!

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Do you say Ciao in French?

French: ciao, tchao, tchô (mostly used to say "goodbye").

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Should I use salut or bonjour?

Salut (pronounced with a silent t) is commonly used in France, although it is extremely informal: It's the equivalent of saying "hey" in English. Avoid using salut with people you don't know unless you are a teenager. If you are in doubt, stick with bonjour, which—as noted—is always an acceptable form of greeting.

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How do you show respect in France?

Another tip to respect the French etiquette is politeness. Manners are very important to French people and can be tricky for overseas visitors. “Please” (s'il voul plait ) “Thank you” ( merci ) and “You're welcome” ( je vous en prie or de rien) are used in any circumstances, whenever given the chance.

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What behaviors are socially unacceptable in France?

Things Tourists Should Never Do in France
  • Never Underestimate How Far a Few French Words Can Go. ...
  • Never Wave Wildly at a Waiter to Get Their Attention. ...
  • Try Not to Speak Louder Than Everyone Else, Particularly at Night. ...
  • Never Leave Your Cell Phone Out When Having a Coffee/Meal With Friends.

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Can French kiss turn you on?

French kisses can be more stimulating than kisses without the tongue since the lips, tongue, and other parts of the mouth are powerful erogenous zones that contribute to sexual arousal.

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Is it rude to not say bonjour?

In France, saying bonjour in French is a sign of respect and a cultural norm. It's not optional to forgo the greeting if you want people to know that you understand French manners.

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What is the proper response to bonjour?

What is the proper response to bonjour? It's more than sufficient to simply say bonjour back in response to those who greet you, but if you want to go a step beyond, you can respond with comment allez-vous, which is the French equivalent of asking how it's going.

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What is the most popular French phrase?

Top 10 French phrases pronounced by native speakers
  • Bonjour. = Good morning. ...
  • Bonne après-midi. = Good afternoon. ...
  • Je m'appelle Mondly. = My name is Mondly. ...
  • Je suis ravi de vous rencontrer. = I'm pleased to meet you. ...
  • Comment ça va ? = How are you? ...
  • Bien, merci. Et vous-même ? ...
  • J'aimerais une bière. ...
  • Je suis désolé.

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Do French people hug when they greet?

Unlike Americans, the French do not use hugging as a greeting. Instead, they kiss cheeks (faire la bise) informally and shake hands in formal settings. Because they are not given often, hugs tend to make French people uncomfortable and can easily seem like an invasion of personal space.

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How do French girls greet?

Women will often greet each other with a handshake or by kissing once on each cheek. Men who know the woman they are greeting, may exchange a kiss on each cheek.

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Do the French shake hands when they greet each other?

The French do not just say 'Salut'. They also shake hands or kiss. At work in the morning, colleagues shake hands, and sometimes it is also customary to shake hands again at the end of the day. Shaking hands is thus a ritual at the beginning and end of each encounter, even if the encounter only lasts five minutes.

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How French people greet their friends?

Among friends and relatives, the most common greeting is the 'la bise' (kiss on both cheeks). The la bise consists of placing one's cheek against another's, making a kiss noise, then repeating it on the opposite side. A la bise is sometimes accompanied with an embrace.

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How do the French greet each other in the morning?

Generally speaking, bonjour is the standard method of saying “good morning.” But depending on where in the world you are, you may also be able to say bon matin! Interestingly, you generally want to say bonjour to someone once per day.

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Why do the French say salut?

The informal French greeting “Salut!” (pronounced sah-lu) has several meanings including hi, hello, bye, goodbye and cheers. The French strictly use salut with acquaintances and not strangers. In more formal situations the French use both bonjour and au revoir.

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Is bonjour Hello or good morning?

The following phrase is the most common way of saying “good morning” in French, and you will hear it the most often. “Bonjour” is not only limited to the morning, it can also be used to greet someone you meet for the first time during the day. You can say bonjour in many formal and informal situations.

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How can I be polite in France?

How to be polite in France — what to do:
  1. ALWAYS start any interaction off with a greeting: bonjour during the day and bonsoir at night. Bonjour madame (or monsieur for a man) is appreciated as well. ...
  2. Be polite back and just go with whatever the person says to you first. A simple thanks and bye is fine.

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How do French people greet each other in business?

When meeting, men greet each other with a handshake. However, air kisses are common greetings. Let your French counterpart lead. Always say hello to everyone when greeting.

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Is salut impolite?

One of the common mistakes is using “salut” as a greeting in formal settings, as it is considered informal and impolite. Another mistake is using “salut” in a business context, where “bonjour” or “bonsoir” is more appropriate.

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