What are 2 ways to greet someone in French? (2023)

What are 2 ways to greet someone in French?

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.

How do you answer a greeting in French?

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.

How do French people traditionally greet each other?

The traditional French greeting: la bise. La bise is a cheek kiss or a series of cheek kisses. This has been the typical way for French people to greet each other since at least the 1960's, and farther back for family members and close friends. In many situations, la bise is the quintessential French greeting.

How do French men greet?

Men will greet each other by shaking hands. Men who are close friends may hug. 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.

What is kissing on both cheeks called?

La bise is a French greeting where two people kiss each other's cheeks two, three, and even four times.

Is it Salut or Bonjour?

Just as in English, there are several ways to say hello in French. You can simply use the informal salut (hi) on its own. You can also use bonjour (good morning or good afternoon) or bonsoir (good evening). You would only use bonne nuit (good night) at bedtime.

Is Bonjour Hello or goodbye?

Bonjour – Hello!

If you're learning French, it's probably the first greeting you encounter. In the evening, replace bonjour with bonsoir (good evening).

How do French people greet each other in the morning?

“Bonjour” is the most common and standard way to greet someone in France. Therefore, using “Bonjour” throughout the day is appropriate until around 6 p.m. This is the most common and standard way to say “good morning” in French.

Which cheek to kiss first?

You start by leaning in and placing right cheek to right cheek, before moving to the left side—and back and forth thereafter if additional pecks are required. The primary exception is Italy, which starts il bacio on the left. While some cultures really do apply lips to cheek, you're better off refraining.

Why is it called French kiss?

French kissing became popular after WWI

No one really knows the exact reason why we use the term, but it was likely adopted by Americans who traveled to France and kissed French women, who were more comfortable with a bit of tongue action, says Kirshenbaum. Naturally, the term “French kiss” developed.

How many cheek kisses?

Know how many kisses

In most cases, it's safest to opt for the classic middle, one quick kiss on each cheek (for more detailed breakdowns by region, check out this helpful article). Remember not to actually kiss the person on the cheek. Instead, gently rest your cheek against theirs and kiss the air.

What is butterfly kiss?

: the act or an instance of fluttering one's eyelashes against another person's skin. "… I've invented a new way of kissing. You do it with your eye-lashes." "I've known that for years.

What does 3 kisses mean?

Three kisses in a row is a new type of kiss that a person in love gives to the one they love. These kisses are short ones that come one after the other. If they give you these magical three kisses, one after the other, they want to make sure that you know that they love you.

Which cultures don t kiss?

Only around half of cultures kiss each other intimately. Central America, South America and Africa are particular regions where there is not much of a kissing culture. Only 4 of the 17 cultures researched in South America, 4 of 27 in Africa and 0 of 10 cultures in Central America lock lips romantically.

Do you say bonjour back?

You can either reply saying "Bonjour" back or you could say "salut" which also means hello but in an informal way. This is especially important in French because French-speakers tend to be much more formal about greetings.

Can I say bonjour at night?

Saying bonjour is the most common way to greet someone in French. It's a flexible, all-purpose term: You use it to greet people in the morning, afternoon, or evening. Bonjour is always polite, and it works in any situation.

Does we mean yes in French?

Yes in French – oui – is pronounced more or less like 'we' in English, and we use it a lot. It's neither formal or informal, it can be used in pretty much any occasion to answer in the affirmative. So, if in doubt, you can always go with “oui” to say yes in French.

What is a famous French saying?

2 – C'est la vie

This is of course a very well-known French expression. It literally means “that's life”. The funny thing is it's probably used more in English than in France itself, where they may say “c'est comme ça” – “it's the way things are”- more often than “c'est la vie”.

What is hi in Italy?

The most common Italian greeting is Ciao (pronounced CHOW). Ciao is a simple, snappy way of saying hello and goodbye in Italian.

Does Bonjour mean hello?

The most common way to say “hello” in French: Bonjour!

Literally meaning “good day”, Bonjour is the most commonly used French greeting.

How do you say hello in French not Bonjour?

What do you say after Bonjour?

After you greet someone in French with bonjour or salut and you both make your introductions, you can say enchanté(e), which means “pleased to meet you”. The literal translation of this word is “delighted” or “enchanted”, you're saying that you're delighted to meet this person.

How do you greet morning in French?

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. The next time you see them, you should use a more informal greeting!

How do you say kiss hello in French?

What is la bise? Although you might not have heard the term before, you'll be familiar with this very French way of saying hello. "La bise" is the greeting where a person gently bumps cheeks against another person, while making a kissing sound (basically, an 'air kiss'). "La bise" literally just means "kiss" in French.

What is the kissing culture in France?

La bise is a traditional, common way to greet family, friends, and even coworkers (depending on your workplace). It's the equivalent of both a handshake and a hug. Basically, faire la bise consists of lightly kissing someone on the cheek or cheeks.

How do you greet someone in French throughout the day?

How do French people greet each other in the afternoon?

Bon après-midi

This is partly because it's a slightly longer expression, but most likely it's because you can also say 'Bonjour' during the afternoon. Nonetheless, 'Bon après-midi' is useful for when you want to give a more time-specific greeting, and especially when your afternoon is going better than your morning!

Should I say 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.