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How do you say hey in French?

Author

Rachel Ellis

Published Jan 23, 2026

Coucou – “Hey!”

If you want to know how to say hello in French, you should know about coucou.

How do you greet in French?

Informal and Formal French Salutations

  1. Bonjour – Good morning / hello.
  2. Enchanté(e) – Nice to meet you.
  3. Bonsoir – Good evening / hello.
  4. Salut – Hi.
  5. Coucou – Hey.
  6. Ça fait longtemps, dis donc – Long time, no see.
  7. Âllo – Hello.
  8. Ça va? – How are you?

How do you say hey in Paris?

Truth be told, there is really only one way to say “hello” in French and that is: bonjour. In French language and culture, a 'bonjour' is the first step to any experience in which communication is exchanged. It is how we acknowledge the other person and show respect, the anglophone version of a smile.

How do you greet a French man?

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.

How do you respond to Bonjour?

What is the proper response to bonjour? 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.

25 related questions found

What is Kamusta in France?

trash in french. Last Update: 2013-07-27. Usage Frequency: 1.

What is disrespectful France?

French people tend not to visit unannounced or uninvited. To do so is considered rude. When invited to a dinner, it is common for guests to ask their hosts if they are required to bring something on the day. Guests may also bring a bottle of wine or dessert.

Do French men kiss greeting?

Yes, even men greet one another with la bise but not nearly as often as it happens between two women or a woman and a man. Usually, men reserve la bise for very close friends and family. It also depends on the region. Where we live, in the south, it's far more common for men to cheek kiss than it is in the north.

How do French show their love?

Public displays of affection (PDA) aren't a taboo in France. Couples hold hands, hug, and kiss regularly. Perhaps this is the reason why the reputation for French romantic freedom is so widespread. But, the reality is, that the PDA is reserved for your partner alone.

Can you say Bonjour in afternoon?

"Bonjour"—The Most Common Greeting

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.

How do you say hello in Quebec?

Quebec Tries to Say Au Revoir to 'Hi,' and Hello to 'Bonjour'

How do you respond to Bonsoir in French?

When someone greets you bonsoir, you can reply using bonsoir simply. It is use for formal as well as informal greeting in French-speaking countries. There is also an other way of responding or greeting someone when replying to bonsoir. It is by responding “Salut”.

How do you respond to Merci Beaucoup?

The usual response to merci is de rien (You're welcome – literally, It's nothing) or il n'y a pas de quoi. In a more formal context, you could say Je vous en prie or Je t'en prie.

How do you reply to greet in French?

Options for Replying to a Secondary Greeting. When asked how you are, the most common responses are Ça va bien (“It's going well”) or Tout va bien (“Everything's going well”). Just as in English, it is uncommon to reply with Ça va mal (it's going badly), even if you aren't 100%.

What is the meaning of Enchante?

The word enchanté in French means enchanted, delighted, overjoyed, smitten, or bewitched. In English, the word "enchant" means to influence by charms and incantation, to bewitch, attract, move deeply, or rouse to ecstatic admiration. The similarities in the French and English terms are clear.

Why do French kiss three times?

The reason behind these differences remains unknown. One respondent remarked that the custom of three kisses appeared more prevalent in the area roughly corresponding to 17th-century Protestant France, and that it could have been a way of recognising those of the same faith (three being a sign of the Trinity).

Which side do French kiss first?

In the southeastern and eastern areas of France, it's left cheek first. In the rest of the country, it's the right.

Why is it called French kissing?

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.

Do French like hugs?

Because they are not given often, hugs tend to make French people uncomfortable and can easily seem like an invasion of personal space. Hugs are not normal between strangers, acquaintances, or even most friends and family. If at all, they are usually reserved for young children or lovers.

What should you not wear in France?

What NOT to Wear in Paris

  • Red Beret With White/Black Striped Tops and Skirt. Yes, Parisians occasionally wear berets, but they tend to wear more muted colored ones. ...
  • Tight Clothing. Parisians are very sex-positive, but they dress fairly conservatively. ...
  • Stilletos. ...
  • Heavy Hair/Make-Up. ...
  • Sweatpants and Athletic Wear. ...
  • Shorts.

Is it rude to be late in France?

If you arrive late, it is considered rude and the host may be offended. While that is the custom in America, it is not the custom around the world. In fact, in France, arriving on time to a dinner party is considered rude. The proper etiquette is to actually arrive around 15 minutes late to the party.

What does ca va mean in English?

Ça va, which is pronounced like “sah vah,” is a common phrase heard in day-to-day French speech. Ça va literally translates to “it goes,” but it is used in a variety of situations. The most common way you'll hear ça va is when it is used to ask someone how they're doing as a shortened version of comment ça va ?

Is Bonjour French?

Definition of bonjour

interjection French. good day; good morning; hello.

How do you say hello in French Bonjour?

Bonjour: the Most Common Way to say hello in French

Saying “bonjour” has to be the most common way of saying hello in French. And it's usually accompanied by a “bisous à la française” – a kiss on the cheeks – or a firm hand shake.