Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Grammar/Introductions-and-Greetings"

Revision as of 11:03, 30 March 2023

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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

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 "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

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

Course Presentation

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

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

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 * 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.
+Note that "Bonsoir" can be used as both a greeting and a farewell, depending on the time of day.
 == Introducing Yourself ==