French · CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 1
BonjourHello
Your first words of French: the greetings — bonjour, salut, bonsoir — and when to use each, how to leave with au revoir and à bientôt, and the everyday oui / non / d'accord. Standard French.
Dialogue
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Bonjour— Saying Hello
- LucasBonjour ! Salut, Camille.Hello! Hi, Camille.
- CamilleSalut, Lucas ! Euh... bonjour !Hi, Lucas! Er... hello!
- LucasBonsoir ?Good evening? (is it evening?)
- CamilleNon ! Bonjour. Au revoir !No! Hello. Goodbye!
Dialogue
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Au revoir— Goodbye
- CamilleAu revoir, Lucas !Goodbye, Lucas!
- LucasÀ bientôt ! D'accord ?See you soon! Okay?
- CamilleOui, d'accord !Yes, okay!
- LucasÀ bientôt ! Au revoir.See you soon! Goodbye.
Vocabulary
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- bonjour
interjectionhello
- salut
interjectionhi
- bonsoir
interjectiongood evening
- au revoir
interjectiongoodbye
- à bientôt
interjectionsee you soon
- oui
adverbyes
- non
adverbno
- d'accord
interjectionokay, agreed
Grammar
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Bonjour, salut or bonsoir?
Explanation
Three words for hello, and the choice is not free. Bonjour is the safe one: it suits everybody, known or unknown, and it works all day. Salut is for friends, family and close colleagues; said to a stranger it is too familiar. Bonsoir takes over from bonjour at the start of the evening — around six, by the clock rather than by the daylight. That is Lucas's mistake in the dialogue: he tries "Bonsoir ?" in the middle of the day, and Camille pulls him up: "Non ! Bonjour." When in doubt, use bonjour: it offends nobody.
Examples
- Bonjour ! (à tout le monde, toute la journée)Bonjour! (to anyone, all day long)
- Salut, Camille ! (à une amie — jamais à un inconnu)Salut, Camille! (to a friend — never to a stranger)
- Bonsoir ! (au début de la soirée, vers six heures)Bonsoir! (at the start of the evening, around six)
Grammar
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Leaving: au revoir, à bientôt, d'accord
Explanation
Au revoir is the standard exit: it works with anyone, like bonjour. À bientôt adds a promise — we will meet again, and soon; don't say it to someone you won't be seeing again. The two run together very often, and that is how the dialogue ends: "À bientôt ! Au revoir." Then there is d'accord, which settles matters: you agree, and you can go. Above all, notice what Lucas does to ask his question: he changes no word and moves nothing. "D'accord ?" It is the voice alone that rises at the end. Camille answers with the same word and a falling voice: "Oui, d'accord !"
Examples
- À bientôt ! Au revoir. (les deux ensemble, comme dans le dialogue)À bientôt! Au revoir. (both together, as in the dialogue)
- D'accord ? — Oui, d'accord ! (même mot : la voix monte, puis descend)D'accord? — Oui, d'accord! (same word: the voice rises, then falls)
- Au revoir, Lucas ! (à qui que ce soit)Au revoir, Lucas! (to anyone at all)
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