Basic French Greetings: Common Mistakes Beginners Make and How to Use Them Correctly

When you start learning French, greetings are often the first words you’re introduced to. They seem simple, but many beginners make mistakes — especially in pronunciation and context. In this blog, we’ll break down essential French greetings, how to use them naturally, and the pronunciation traps to avoid.

1. Bonjour – Hello / Good morning

Usage:

Use Bonjour during the day (usually before 6 PM). It's polite and works in both formal and informal settings.

Example:
– Bonjour, Madame Dupont !
– Bonjour, comment allez-vous ?

❌ Common Mistake:

Beginners often pronounce it like “bon-jer”.
Correct pronunciation: bohn-zhoor (the ‘n’ is nasal; the ‘j’ sounds like the ‘s’ in pleasure).

2. Bonsoir – Good evening

Usage:

Used in the evening when you greet someone after 6 PM or when it starts getting dark.

Example:
– Bonsoir, vous allez bien ?
– Bonsoir, enchanté de vous rencontrer.

❌ Common Mistake:

Saying "bon-swear" instead of bohn-swahr. Also, beginners sometimes use Bonsoir in the morning — avoid that!

3. Bonne nuit – Good night

Usage:

Used when saying goodbye at night, especially before someone goes to sleep.

Example:
– Je vais dormir. Bonne nuit !
– Bonne nuit, fais de beaux rêves !

❌ Common Mistake:

Using Bonne nuit as a greeting. Remember, it’s only for bidding goodnight, not for meeting someone in the evening.

4. Salut – Hi / Bye (informal)

Usage:

Used with friends, peers, or someone your age. It's casual and works as both hello and goodbye.

Example:
– Salut, ça va ?
– Salut, à demain !

❌ Common Mistake:

Saying “sa-loot” like the English word salute.
Correct pronunciation: sa-lü (the final t is silent, and the u is pronounced like a French u, which doesn't exist in English — round your lips like saying oo, but say ee).

5. Ça va ? – How are you?

Usage:

Very common informal way to ask "how are you?". Often used right after Salut or Bonjour.

Example:
– Salut, ça va ?
– Oui, ça va bien, merci !

❌ Common Mistake:

Mispronouncing it as "ka va" or "suh va".
️ Correct pronunciation: sa va (simple and smooth).

 6. Comment allez-vous ? – How are you? (formal)

Usage:

Used in formal situations: with strangers, elders, or in professional settings.

Example:
– Bonjour Madame, comment allez-vous ?
– Très bien, merci. Et vous ?

❌ Common Mistake:

Mixing up formal and informal. Saying Comment allez-vous ? to your best friend may sound too stiff.
Correct pronunciation: kom-mahn tah-lay voo