Language/French/Grammar/Introductions-and-Greetings

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French Grammar → Alphabet and Pronunciation → Introductions and Greetings

Introducing oneself in French is the starting point of any social interaction. In this lesson, you will learn how to introduce yourself, greet people and say goodbye.


After mastering this lesson, these related pages might interest you: Use of soi & Choice of some time adverbs relative to the moment of speaking.

Basic Greetings[edit | edit source]

The following are the most common ways to greet someone in French:

  • Bonjour - Good morning/Good afternoon
  • Bonsoir - Good evening (used after dark)
  • Salut - Hi (informal)
  • Coucou - Hey there (informal, used with friends)

Note that "Salut" and "Bonsoir" can be used as both a greeting and a farewell, depending on the time in the day.

Introducing Yourself[edit | edit source]

When introducing yourself, you can say:

  • Je m'appelle [name] - My name is...
  • Je suis [name] - I am...
  • [name], enchanté(e) - [name], pleased to meet you (male, female)

For example:

French Pronunciation English
Je m'appelle Marie. zhuh mah-pell mah-ree. My name is Marie.
Je suis Julien. zhuh swee joo-lee-ahn. I am Julien.
Léa, enchantée. lay-ah, ahn-shawn-tay. Léa, pleased to meet you.

Basic Conversational Phrases[edit | edit source]

Once you have introduced yourself, you can use the following conversational phrases:

  • Comment ça va? - How are you?
  • Ça va bien, merci. Et toi? - I'm doing well, thanks. And you?
  • Très bien, merci. - Very well, thanks.
  • Comme ci, comme ça. - So-so.
  • Au revoir - Goodbye.

For example:

French Pronunciation English
Comment ça va? koh-mohn sa vah? How are you?
Ça va bien, merci. Et toi? sah vah byahn, mehr-see. ey twah? I'm doing well, thanks. And you?
Très bien, merci. tray byahn, mehr-see. Very well, thanks.

Cultural Notes[edit | edit source]

  • In France, it is customary to shake hands when meeting someone new, particularly in a formal setting, such as a business meeting or an interview.
  • The French take great pride in their language and expect visitors to at least attempt to speak French.
  • When entering a small shop or an elevator, it is polite to greet the other customers with a "Bonjour" or "Bonsoir" and "Au revoir" when leaving.

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

By mastering basic greetings and introductions, you will be able to hold simple conversations with French speakers while getting accustomed to the French language and culture, an important skill for anyone who wants to successfully communicate with French speakers.

Sources[edit | edit source]

Now that you've completed this lesson, don't stop learning! Check out these related topics: Pronominal Verbs & Definite article.

Table of Contents - French Course - 0 to A1[edit source]


Alphabet and Pronunciation


Nouns and Articles


Verbs and Tenses


Adjectives and Adverbs


Negation and Interrogation


Numbers and Time


Family and Relationships


Food and Drink


Hobbies and Interests


Geography and Travel


French Culture and Arts


French History and Society

Other Lessons[edit | edit source]


◀️ French Accent Marks — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Gender and Number of Nouns ▶️

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