Language/French/Grammar/Introductions-and-Greetings

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.

Basic Greetings

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 Bonjour and Bonsoir can be used as both a greeting and a farewell, depending on the time of day.

Introducing Yourself

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

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

• 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

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

• French Phrases
• Greetings

Table of Contents - French Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Alphabet and Pronunciation

• The French Alphabet
• French Vowels and Consonants
• French Accent Marks
• Introductions and Greetings

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Nouns and Articles

• Gender and Number of Nouns
• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Partitive Articles

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Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense of Regular Verbs
• Common Irregular Verbs
• Passé Composé
• Futur Proche

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Adjectives and Adverbs

• Agreement of Adjectives
• Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
• Formation and Use of Adverbs

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Negation and Interrogation

• Negation
• Interrogation

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Numbers and Time

• Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers
• Time and Dates

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Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Romantic Relationships

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Food and Drink

• Food and Eating Habits
• Beverages and Drinking Habits

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Hobbies and Interests

• Sports and Fitness Activities
• Music and Entertainment

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Geography and Travel

• Regions and Cities in France
• Transportation and Accommodation

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French Culture and Arts

• French Cuisine and Gastronomy
• French Cinema and Literature

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French History and Society

• Major Events in French History
• French Society and Lifestyle

Related Lessons

• Pronominal verbs used reflexively
• Dates
• on as an alternative to the English passive
• Types of noun
• Money
• The plural of compound nouns
• Meaning of alors
• Cardinal numbers
• Manner adverbs
• Verb forms — Introduction