Essential French Greetings and Farewells

Thank you. Hi, I'm Louisa from the Little Language School here in Saint-Junior and I'm your French teacher on A New Life in France. Today we're going to be looking at greetings and how you're going to be saying hello to people when you are maybe in a shop or maybe you're seeing your neighbours over the fence. And we'll also add another little bit on how you are going to say goodbye to them after you've had your conversation and maybe also a little bit about how you're going to be asking each other how you are and how to respond to that. As you know, As you know, the standard greeting in France is to say Bonjour. the standard greeting in France is to say bonjour. Bonjour is literally good bonjour day. Bonjour is literally good, bonjour, day. After about five-ish, After about five-ish, kind of depending on the time of year, kind of depending on the time of year, how dark it is outside. how dark it is outside and... when people realise it's getting towards evening time, when people realise it's getting towards evening time, it changes from bonjour to bonsoir. it changes from bonjour to bonsoir. Bonsoir. Bonsoir. So bon, So bon, good, good, soir, soir, evening. evening. There is no other bon to say good. There is no other bon to say good. anything in French as in good morning, anything in French as in good morning, good afternoon like we have in English. good afternoon like we have in English. It's only bonjour if it's during the daytime or bonsoir if it's getting to evening time. It's only bonjour if it's during the daytime or bonsoir if it's getting to evening time. Something important culturally is to always start any interaction that you have in France with a hello. Something important culturally is to always start any interaction that you have in France with a hello. Even if it's just, Even if it's just, you know, you know, popping up to the local café and asking for a coffee, popping up to the local café and asking for a coffee, excuse me can I have a coffee please? excuse me can I have a coffee please? Always start with a bonjour. Always start with a bonjour. Could I have a coffee please? Could I have a coffee please? Or you might be in the supermarket looking for the milk or something. Or you might be in the supermarket looking for the milk or something. You should always start with bonjour when you're seeing that person that's going to help you try and find your milk and then ask them where it might be or whatever. You should always start with bonjour when you're seeing that person that's going to help you try and find your milk and then ask them where it might be or whatever. So always start your interaction with hello. So always start your interaction with hello. There are a couple of other options of saying hello which are more informal. There are a couple of other options of saying hello which are more informal. So there's salut. So there's salut. Salut is kind of a... Salut is kind of a... hi you know you might say that to your neighbor over the fence or a friend that you see in town or whatever so salut and the third option is really informal it's cuckoo cuckoo and cuckoo is is what you might say um to hi you know you might say that to your neighbor over the fence or a friend that you see in town or whatever so salut and the third option is really informal it's cuckoo cuckoo and cuckoo is is what you might say um to a child if they're you know playing peekaboo or something you say cuckoo um or it's it's kind of a little it's just a cute little kind of queen sort of noise so cuckoo you a child if they're you know playing peekaboo or something you say cuckoo um or it's it's kind of a little it's just a cute little kind of queen sort of noise so cuckoo you coucou very informal coucou it's still really common and polite to say bonjour and then say monsieur afterwards if it's if it's somebody that you don't know as a starting kind of greeting so bonjour monsieur bonjour coucou very informal coucou it's still really common and polite to say bonjour and then say monsieur afterwards if it's if it's somebody that you don't know as a starting kind of greeting so bonjour monsieur bonjour monsieur monsieur can be tricky to pronounce doesn't look really like it's how it's spelled so monsieur monsieur and then bonjour madame monsieur monsieur can be tricky to pronounce doesn't look really like it's how it's spelled so monsieur monsieur and then bonjour madame Bonjour madame. Bonjour madame. Obviously if it's a woman. Obviously if it's a woman. Bonjour madame. Bonjour madame. If you've seen somebody twice in one day, If you've seen somebody twice in one day, there is a word for that, there is a word for that, which is to say re-bonjour when you see that person. which is to say re-bonjour when you see that person. Which is kind of our equivalent of hello again. Which is kind of our equivalent of hello again. Re-bonjour. Re-bonjour. Re-bonjour. Re-bonjour. The re is kind of an e sound, The re is kind of an e sound, like in the number two in French. like in the number two in French. It's that sound. It's that sound. Be careful not to make it sound like the English oui. Be careful not to make it sound like the English oui. It's au re-bonjour and au re-bonsoir if you see them twice in one evening. It's au re-bonjour and au re-bonsoir if you see them twice in one evening. One of my students told me a story that they hadn't said this to somebody and the person said, One of my students told me a story that they hadn't said this to somebody and the person said, well, well, you've just seen me. you've just seen me. It's me. It's me. We've just seen each other. We've just seen each other. And they thought that they'd actually forgotten that they'd seen them already, And they thought that they'd actually forgotten that they'd seen them already, you know, you know, ten minutes earlier. ten minutes earlier. So au re-bonjour is if you see them for a second. So au re-bonjour is if you see them for a second. second time in one day. second time in one day. Sava is the way that you would ask somebody how they are. Sava is the way that you would ask somebody how they are. So, So, sava literally means it's going, sava literally means it's going, it goes. it goes. It's kind of asking how's it going. It's kind of asking how's it going. Sava, Sava, sava. sava. You put the question in your voice by putting your tone up, You put the question in your voice by putting your tone up, your intonation up at the end. your intonation up at the end. So, So, sava. sava. How are you? How are you? And the answer can quite simply just be, And the answer can quite simply just be, ça va? ça va? The same words repeated, The same words repeated, but just with a different intonation. but just with a different intonation. Ça va? Ça va? Ça va? Ça va? Ça va? Ça va? Ça va? Ça va? How's it going? How's it going? It's going. It's going. Ça va? Ça va? Ça va? Ça va? You could also say, You could also say, ça va bien? ça va bien? Ça va bien? Ça va bien? Which is, Which is, it's going well. it's going well. I'm fine. I'm fine. Ça va bien. Ça va bien. But just ça va is fine. But just ça va is fine. But you're going to want to ask, But you're going to want to ask, and you afterwards it's the polite thing to do somebody asks you how you are to then say I'm fine thanks and how about you so in French we've got two options when we're asking somebody back how about you the and you afterwards it's the polite thing to do somebody asks you how you are to then say I'm fine thanks and how about you so in French we've got two options when we're asking somebody back how about you the first option is saying et toi et toi ça va ça va et toi and the second option is to first option is saying et toi et toi ça va ça va et toi and the second option is to to say et vous? to say et vous? Ça va? Ça va? Ça va? Ça va? Et vous? Et vous? So you might be thinking, So you might be thinking, well, well, which one am I supposed to use? which one am I supposed to use? How am I supposed to know whether I'm supposed to say et toi or et vous? How am I supposed to know whether I'm supposed to say et toi or et vous? Because they both mean and you. Because they both mean and you. As you may well know, As you may well know, there are two different ways to say you in French. there are two different ways to say you in French. There's the you that you use when you are talking to somebody that you know well, There's the you that you use when you are talking to somebody that you know well, that you are being informal to, that you are being informal to, and there is a you that you use if you're and there is a you that you use if you're you're showing a bit more formality or if you're speaking to more than one person. you're showing a bit more formality or if you're speaking to more than one person. We have to be a little bit careful here because tu and vous are different words obviously for you. We have to be a little bit careful here because tu and vous are different words obviously for you. But when you're wanting to say and you, But when you're wanting to say and you, for the tu one it changes to et toi. for the tu one it changes to et toi. So just be careful. So just be careful. It's a really common mistake we make as English speakers. It's a really common mistake we make as English speakers. We say et tu, We say et tu, which is completely understandable because we think tu means you. which is completely understandable because we think tu means you. But actually it's a different word. But actually it's a different word. It's et toi when you want to say. It's et toi when you want to say. say and you. say and you. So how can we work out when to say tu and when to say vous? So how can we work out when to say tu and when to say vous? Well for tu, Well for tu, what you need to think is it only ever works for one single person or one single animal that you might be talking to. what you need to think is it only ever works for one single person or one single animal that you might be talking to. Okay, Okay, so tu can only ever be used as singular. so tu can only ever be used as singular. And the only other time that you use tu is if you're being informal. And the only other time that you use tu is if you're being informal. So for any kind of pets or something like that, So for any kind of pets or something like that, you would always call them tu. you would always call them tu. children, children, we always call children tu. we always call children tu. And the other time that you call somebody tu is when it is your friend and you are being informal with them. And the other time that you call somebody tu is when it is your friend and you are being informal with them. And there comes a point when a relationship changes from vous to tu. And there comes a point when a relationship changes from vous to tu. And often one of you will say to the other, And often one of you will say to the other, should we call each other tu now? should we call each other tu now? On va se tutoyer. On va se tutoyer. There's even a verb in French, There's even a verb in French, tutoyer. tutoyer. Se tutoyer, Se tutoyer, which is to call each other tu. which is to call each other tu. Or sometimes somebody will just go, Or sometimes somebody will just go, oh no, oh no, they'll say, they'll say, oh don't worry, oh don't worry, just call me tu. just call me tu. Maybe it's come from a slip-up that you've gone to say vous, Maybe it's come from a slip-up that you've gone to say vous, but it said tu, but it said tu, and they say, and they say, oh no, oh no, let's just stick with tu. let's just stick with tu. So at some point there will come a change from, So at some point there will come a change from, let's start being informal with each other now. let's start being informal with each other now. My best piece of advice here is follow the lead of the French person that you're talking to. My best piece of advice here is follow the lead of the French person that you're talking to. So vous then, So vous then, when would you use vous? when would you use vous? So now you're talking to somebody that you're talking to. So now you're talking to somebody that you're talking to. So, So, vous we use when we're trying to show a bit more formality. vous we use when we're trying to show a bit more formality. So, So, we might use vous if we were talking to, we might use vous if we were talking to, say, say, the mayor or somebody that you don't know. the mayor or somebody that you don't know. So, So, for example, for example, somebody in a shop or what have you, somebody in a shop or what have you, you would call them vous. you would call them vous. And also, And also, for the first time that you would meet a neighbour, for the first time that you would meet a neighbour, you might call them vous. you might call them vous. Okay, Okay, just to show, just to show, okay, okay, I understand that there's a level of formality here because we don't know each other well yet. I understand that there's a level of formality here because we don't know each other well yet. There it is. There it is. Another term that you use, Another term that you use, and this is the one that sometimes people forget, and this is the one that sometimes people forget, is that is used for plural. is that is used for plural. Okay? Okay? And plural, And plural, no matter if it's your absolute best friends in the world, no matter if it's your absolute best friends in the world, as soon as there's more than one of them, as soon as there's more than one of them, you call them as a collective. you call them as a collective. And same with children. And same with children. Even though we call individual children, Even though we call individual children, as soon as there's more than one, as soon as there's more than one, you call them as a collective. you call them as a collective. It's almost like in English when you say, It's almost like in English when you say, you all. you all. or you both. or you both. That's what v is doing here when we're speaking to more than one person. That's what v is doing here when we're speaking to more than one person. So we've got ça va, So we've got ça va, ça va et toi? ça va et toi? If you're talking to one person that you know well, If you're talking to one person that you know well, or a child or a dog. or a child or a dog. Or ça va, Or ça va, ça va et vous? ça va et vous? If you're talking to somebody that you don't know so well, If you're talking to somebody that you don't know so well, or you're talking to more than one person. or you're talking to more than one person. Now you've finished your conversation. Now you've finished your conversation. Very likely there will be a bit of a have a good day, Very likely there will be a bit of a have a good day, a little comment at the end. a little comment at the end. So we've got a few options here that you often hear. So we've got a few options here that you often hear. So bonjourner, So bonjourner, bonjourner. bonjourner. We can see jour in here, We can see jour in here, so that's back to that word day again. so that's back to that word day again. So, So, bonjourner is have a good day. bonjourner is have a good day. Have a good day. Have a good day. It's a slightly different word from the word jour. It's a slightly different word from the word jour. And this is because we're talking about have a good daytime. And this is because we're talking about have a good daytime. Enjoy what you do. Enjoy what you do. doing in that time so it's got a slightly different connotation to it so bonjournée bonjournée bonsoirée is the other one that you often hear have a good evening bonsoirée bon week-end bon week-end and there's lots of other bon or bonnes as well that you'll hear bonne fin de is doing in that time so it's got a slightly different connotation to it so bonjournée bonjournée bonsoirée is the other one that you often hear have a good evening bonsoirée bon week-end bon week-end and there's lots of other bon or bonnes as well that you'll hear bonne fin de is another one that you often hear which is have a good end of whatever it might be so bonne fin d'après-midi have a good end of afternoon another one that you often hear which is have a good end of whatever it might be so bonne fin d'après-midi have a good end of afternoon So lots of different ways that you will kind of sign off in a enjoy the rest of your whatever it might be. So lots of different ways that you will kind of sign off in a enjoy the rest of your whatever it might be. In terms of answering this, In terms of answering this, you can just literally as easy as repeating it back. you can just literally as easy as repeating it back. So, So, bonjourner, bonjourner, bonjourner, bonjourner, and that's it. and that's it. Bonsoir, Bonsoir, bonsoir, bonsoir, and off you go. and off you go. So you can repeat the words, So you can repeat the words, completely repeat it. completely repeat it. Have a good day, Have a good day, have a good day, have a good day, and off you go. and off you go. There's another way that you can do it. There's another way that you can do it. There's a few different ways that you can say it. There's a few different ways that you can say it. it but another way that's quite an easy way to remember I think is to say pareillement. it but another way that's quite an easy way to remember I think is to say pareillement. I've put here the phonetic spelling of it as well so that you can hear how it or you can read how it sounds so pareillement think about parallel it's like it's parallel like I want it to be the same as you it's I've put here the phonetic spelling of it as well so that you can hear how it or you can read how it sounds so pareillement think about parallel it's like it's parallel like I want it to be the same as you it's it's almost like saying likewise in English pareillement it's almost like saying likewise in English pareillement So whichever one of those you feel most comfortable with, So whichever one of those you feel most comfortable with, have a practice. have a practice. Or just repeating it back, Or just repeating it back, bonjourner. bonjourner. You can also say and you too, You can also say and you too, et vous aussi, et vous aussi, if you want to use that. if you want to use that. But pareillement is a really straightforward one as long as it sticks in your head. But pareillement is a really straightforward one as long as it sticks in your head. And lastly, And lastly, we're going to say goodbye. we're going to say goodbye. So the most common way of saying goodbye is just saying au revoir, So the most common way of saying goodbye is just saying au revoir, au revoir, au revoir, au revoir, au revoir, until the re-see, until the re-see, until we see each other again, until we see each other again, au revoir. au revoir. When French people say this, When French people say this, it sometimes sounds super quick and it sounds like au revoir. it sometimes sounds super quick and it sounds like au revoir. You can hardly hear half of the letters in it. You can hardly hear half of the letters in it. But that's the way to say goodbye. But that's the way to say goodbye. Au revoir. Au revoir. Au revoir. Au revoir. If you know that you're going to be seeing the person a bit later, If you know that you're going to be seeing the person a bit later, you can say, you can say, À plus tard. À plus tard. À plus tard. À plus tard. À plus tard. À plus tard. And sometimes they even shorten it just to à plus. And sometimes they even shorten it just to à plus. À plus. À plus. So, So, à plus tard means until. à plus tard means until. À is like till, À is like till, too. too. And then plus means more. And then plus means more. And then tard is late, And then tard is late, like later. like later. We've got the word tardiness in English. We've got the word tardiness in English. It means lateness. It means lateness. So, So, tard is like... tard is like... So, So, à plus tard. à plus tard. See you later. See you later. Two more late. Two more late. See you later. See you later. À plus tard. À plus tard. And we've also got à bientôt. And we've also got à bientôt. À bientôt. À bientôt. À bientôt is see you soon. À bientôt is see you soon. So, So, we're not going to see them that day, we're not going to see them that day, probably, probably, but we're going to see them soon. but we're going to see them soon. So, So, à bientôt. à bientôt. À bientôt. À bientôt. But au revoir is the one that we would use as a kind of standard one for most people. But au revoir is the one that we would use as a kind of standard one for most people. unless we're going to be definitely seeing them later, unless we're going to be definitely seeing them later, we're definitely seeing them soon. we're definitely seeing them soon. So, So, au revoir, au revoir, à plus tard, à plus tard, ou à bientôt. ou à bientôt. And here's a little recap for you. And here's a little recap for you. So, So, remember, remember, bonjour only, bonjour only, not any other bon... not any other bon... Bonjour only until around five-ish, Bonjour only until around five-ish, when it becomes bonsoir. when it becomes bonsoir. You can say salut or coucou, You can say salut or coucou, but it is more informal, but it is more informal, especially coucou. especially coucou. It's polite still to say bonjour madame or bonjour monsieur after bonjour and bonsoir. It's polite still to say bonjour madame or bonjour monsieur after bonjour and bonsoir. If you see someone twice in one day or one evening, If you see someone twice in one day or one evening, have a go at saying rebonjour or rebonsoir when you see them again. have a go at saying rebonjour or rebonsoir when you see them again. ça va can be the question and the answer for how are you ça va? ça va can be the question and the answer for how are you ça va? ça va? ça va? when you want to ask them back and you after ça va think about who you're talking to and choose either et toi or et vous depending on whether they're somebody that you're informal with or somebody that you don't know quite so well yet when you want to ask them back and you after ça va think about who you're talking to and choose either et toi or et vous depending on whether they're somebody that you're informal with or somebody that you don't know quite so well yet Expect a bonne journée or bonne soirée when you're leaving a shop or when you're finishing a conversation. Expect a bonne journée or bonne soirée when you're leaving a shop or when you're finishing a conversation. And you can either just copy that phrase back or have a go at saying pareillement. And you can either just copy that phrase back or have a go at saying pareillement. Pareillement. Pareillement. And lastly, And lastly, when you're saying goodbye, when you're saying goodbye, you can say au revoir, you can say au revoir. or if you're planning on seeing that person later, Or if you're planning on seeing that person later, à plus tard, à plus tard. or if you know you'll see that person soon, Or if you know you'll see that person soon, à bientôt. à bientôt. Okay, I hope you enjoyed that today. you found something in that that helped you. Every week we will be bringing something different for all different levels of learner, so keep tuned. And you will find, if you look in the link below, that there is a link for a free download that you can click on there and you will get a cheat sheet directly to your inbox. See you next time. Au revoir.

As you know, As you know, the standard greeting in France is to say Bonjour. the standard greeting in France is to say bonjour. Bonjour is literally good bonjour day.

Bonjour is literally good, bonjour, day. After about five-ish, After about five-ish, kind of depending on the time of year, kind of depending on the time of year, how dark it is outside. how dark it is outside and... when people realise it's getting towards evening time, when people realise it's getting towards evening time, it changes from bonjour to bonsoir.

it changes from bonjour to bonsoir. Bonsoir. Bonsoir. So bon, So bon, good, good, soir, soir, evening. evening.

There is no other bon to say good. There is no other bon to say good. anything in French as in good morning, anything in French as in good morning, good afternoon like we have in English. good afternoon like we have in English. It's only bonjour if it's during the daytime or bonsoir if it's getting to evening time.

It's only bonjour if it's during the daytime or bonsoir if it's getting to evening time. Something important culturally is to always start any interaction that you have in France with a hello. Something important culturally is to always start any interaction that you have in France with a hello. Even if it's just, Even if it's just, you know, you know, popping up to the local café and asking for a coffee, popping up to the local café and asking for a coffee, excuse me can I have a coffee please?

excuse me can I have a coffee please? Always start with a bonjour. Always start with a bonjour.

Could I have a coffee please? Could I have a coffee please? Or you might be in the supermarket looking for the milk or something.

Or you might be in the supermarket looking for the milk or something. You should always start with bonjour when you're seeing that person that's going to help you try and find your milk and then ask them where it might be or whatever. You should always start with bonjour when you're seeing that person that's going to help you try and find your milk and then ask them where it might be or whatever.

So always start your interaction with hello. So always start your interaction with hello. There are a couple of other options of saying hello which are more informal.

There are a couple of other options of saying hello which are more informal. So there's salut. So there's salut.

Salut is kind of a... Salut is kind of a... hi you know you might say that to your neighbor over the fence or a friend that you see in town or whatever so salut and the third option is really informal it's cuckoo cuckoo and cuckoo is is what you might say um to hi you know you might say that to your neighbor over the fence or a friend that you see in town or whatever so salut and the third option is really informal it's cuckoo cuckoo and cuckoo is is what you might say um to a child if they're you know playing peekaboo or something you say cuckoo um or it's it's kind of a little it's just a cute little kind of queen sort of noise so cuckoo you a child if they're you know playing peekaboo or something you say cuckoo um or it's it's kind of a little it's just a cute little kind of queen sort of noise so cuckoo you coucou very informal coucou it's still really common and polite to say bonjour and then say monsieur afterwards if it's if it's somebody that you don't know as a starting kind of greeting so bonjour monsieur bonjour coucou very informal coucou it's still really common and polite to say bonjour and then say monsieur afterwards if it's if it's somebody that you don't know as a starting kind of greeting so bonjour monsieur bonjour monsieur monsieur can be tricky to pronounce doesn't look really like it's how it's spelled so monsieur monsieur and then bonjour madame monsieur monsieur can be tricky to pronounce doesn't look really like it's how it's spelled so monsieur monsieur and then bonjour madame Bonjour madame.

Bonjour madame. Obviously if it's a woman. Obviously if it's a woman. Bonjour madame. Bonjour madame.

If you've seen somebody twice in one day, If you've seen somebody twice in one day, there is a word for that, there is a word for that, which is to say re-bonjour when you see that person. which is to say re-bonjour when you see that person. Which is kind of our equivalent of hello again.

Which is kind of our equivalent of hello again. Re-bonjour. Re-bonjour. Re-bonjour. Re-bonjour.

The re is kind of an e sound, The re is kind of an e sound, like in the number two in French. like in the number two in French. It's that sound.

It's that sound. Be careful not to make it sound like the English oui. Be careful not to make it sound like the English oui.

It's au re-bonjour and au re-bonsoir if you see them twice in one evening. It's au re-bonjour and au re-bonsoir if you see them twice in one evening. One of my students told me a story that they hadn't said this to somebody and the person said, One of my students told me a story that they hadn't said this to somebody and the person said, well, well, you've just seen me. you've just seen me.

It's me. It's me. We've just seen each other.

We've just seen each other. And they thought that they'd actually forgotten that they'd seen them already, And they thought that they'd actually forgotten that they'd seen them already, you know, you know, ten minutes earlier. ten minutes earlier. So au re-bonjour is if you see them for a second.

So au re-bonjour is if you see them for a second. second time in one day. second time in one day.

Sava is the way that you would ask somebody how they are. Sava is the way that you would ask somebody how they are. So, So, sava literally means it's going, sava literally means it's going, it goes.

it goes. It's kind of asking how's it going. It's kind of asking how's it going. Sava, Sava, sava. sava.

You put the question in your voice by putting your tone up, You put the question in your voice by putting your tone up, your intonation up at the end. your intonation up at the end. So, So, sava. sava. How are you?

How are you? And the answer can quite simply just be, And the answer can quite simply just be, ça va? ça va?

The same words repeated, The same words repeated, but just with a different intonation. but just with a different intonation. Ça va? Ça va? Ça va?

Ça va? Ça va? Ça va? Ça va? Ça va?

How's it going? How's it going? It's going.

It's going. Ça va? Ça va?

Ça va? Ça va? You could also say, You could also say, ça va bien?

ça va bien? Ça va bien? Ça va bien? Which is, Which is, it's going well. it's going well.

I'm fine. I'm fine. Ça va bien.

Ça va bien. But just ça va is fine. But just ça va is fine. But you're going to want to ask, But you're going to want to ask, and you afterwards it's the polite thing to do somebody asks you how you are to then say I'm fine thanks and how about you so in French we've got two options when we're asking somebody back how about you the and you afterwards it's the polite thing to do somebody asks you how you are to then say I'm fine thanks and how about you so in French we've got two options when we're asking somebody back how about you the first option is saying et toi et toi ça va ça va et toi and the second option is to first option is saying et toi et toi ça va ça va et toi and the second option is to to say et vous? to say et vous?

Ça va? Ça va? Ça va?

Ça va? Et vous? Et vous? So you might be thinking, So you might be thinking, well, well, which one am I supposed to use? which one am I supposed to use?

How am I supposed to know whether I'm supposed to say et toi or et vous? How am I supposed to know whether I'm supposed to say et toi or et vous? Because they both mean and you.

Because they both mean and you. As you may well know, As you may well know, there are two different ways to say you in French. there are two different ways to say you in French.

There's the you that you use when you are talking to somebody that you know well, There's the you that you use when you are talking to somebody that you know well, that you are being informal to, that you are being informal to, and there is a you that you use if you're and there is a you that you use if you're you're showing a bit more formality or if you're speaking to more than one person. you're showing a bit more formality or if you're speaking to more than one person. We have to be a little bit careful here because tu and vous are different words obviously for you.

We have to be a little bit careful here because tu and vous are different words obviously for you. But when you're wanting to say and you, But when you're wanting to say and you, for the tu one it changes to et toi. for the tu one it changes to et toi.

So just be careful. So just be careful. It's a really common mistake we make as English speakers. It's a really common mistake we make as English speakers.

We say et tu, We say et tu, which is completely understandable because we think tu means you. which is completely understandable because we think tu means you. But actually it's a different word.

But actually it's a different word. It's et toi when you want to say. It's et toi when you want to say. say and you.

say and you. So how can we work out when to say tu and when to say vous? So how can we work out when to say tu and when to say vous? Well for tu, Well for tu, what you need to think is it only ever works for one single person or one single animal that you might be talking to.

what you need to think is it only ever works for one single person or one single animal that you might be talking to. Okay, Okay, so tu can only ever be used as singular. so tu can only ever be used as singular.

And the only other time that you use tu is if you're being informal. And the only other time that you use tu is if you're being informal. So for any kind of pets or something like that, So for any kind of pets or something like that, you would always call them tu.

you would always call them tu. children, children, we always call children tu. we always call children tu.

And the other time that you call somebody tu is when it is your friend and you are being informal with them. And the other time that you call somebody tu is when it is your friend and you are being informal with them. And there comes a point when a relationship changes from vous to tu.

And there comes a point when a relationship changes from vous to tu. And often one of you will say to the other, And often one of you will say to the other, should we call each other tu now? should we call each other tu now? On va se tutoyer.

On va se tutoyer. There's even a verb in French, There's even a verb in French, tutoyer. tutoyer.

Se tutoyer, Se tutoyer, which is to call each other tu. which is to call each other tu. Or sometimes somebody will just go, Or sometimes somebody will just go, oh no, oh no, they'll say, they'll say, oh don't worry, oh don't worry, just call me tu. just call me tu. Maybe it's come from a slip-up that you've gone to say vous, Maybe it's come from a slip-up that you've gone to say vous, but it said tu, but it said tu, and they say, and they say, oh no, oh no, let's just stick with tu.

let's just stick with tu. So at some point there will come a change from, So at some point there will come a change from, let's start being informal with each other now. let's start being informal with each other now. My best piece of advice here is follow the lead of the French person that you're talking to. My best piece of advice here is follow the lead of the French person that you're talking to.

So vous then, So vous then, when would you use vous? when would you use vous? So now you're talking to somebody that you're talking to.

So now you're talking to somebody that you're talking to. So, So, vous we use when we're trying to show a bit more formality. vous we use when we're trying to show a bit more formality. So, So, we might use vous if we were talking to, we might use vous if we were talking to, say, say, the mayor or somebody that you don't know.

the mayor or somebody that you don't know. So, So, for example, for example, somebody in a shop or what have you, somebody in a shop or what have you, you would call them vous. you would call them vous. And also, And also, for the first time that you would meet a neighbour, for the first time that you would meet a neighbour, you might call them vous. you might call them vous.

Okay, Okay, just to show, just to show, okay, okay, I understand that there's a level of formality here because we don't know each other well yet. I understand that there's a level of formality here because we don't know each other well yet. There it is. There it is.

Another term that you use, Another term that you use, and this is the one that sometimes people forget, and this is the one that sometimes people forget, is that is used for plural. is that is used for plural. Okay? Okay?

And plural, And plural, no matter if it's your absolute best friends in the world, no matter if it's your absolute best friends in the world, as soon as there's more than one of them, as soon as there's more than one of them, you call them as a collective. you call them as a collective. And same with children. And same with children.

Even though we call individual children, Even though we call individual children, as soon as there's more than one, as soon as there's more than one, you call them as a collective. you call them as a collective. It's almost like in English when you say, It's almost like in English when you say, you all. you all.

or you both. or you both. That's what v is doing here when we're speaking to more than one person. That's what v is doing here when we're speaking to more than one person.

So we've got ça va, So we've got ça va, ça va et toi? ça va et toi? If you're talking to one person that you know well, If you're talking to one person that you know well, or a child or a dog. or a child or a dog.

Or ça va, Or ça va, ça va et vous? ça va et vous? If you're talking to somebody that you don't know so well, If you're talking to somebody that you don't know so well, or you're talking to more than one person. or you're talking to more than one person. Now you've finished your conversation.

Now you've finished your conversation. Very likely there will be a bit of a have a good day, Very likely there will be a bit of a have a good day, a little comment at the end. a little comment at the end.

So we've got a few options here that you often hear. So we've got a few options here that you often hear. So bonjourner, So bonjourner, bonjourner.

bonjourner. We can see jour in here, We can see jour in here, so that's back to that word day again. so that's back to that word day again. So, So, bonjourner is have a good day.

bonjourner is have a good day. Have a good day. Have a good day.

It's a slightly different word from the word jour. It's a slightly different word from the word jour. And this is because we're talking about have a good daytime. And this is because we're talking about have a good daytime. Enjoy what you do.

Enjoy what you do. doing in that time so it's got a slightly different connotation to it so bonjournée bonjournée bonsoirée is the other one that you often hear have a good evening bonsoirée bon week-end bon week-end and there's lots of other bon or bonnes as well that you'll hear bonne fin de is doing in that time so it's got a slightly different connotation to it so bonjournée bonjournée bonsoirée is the other one that you often hear have a good evening bonsoirée bon week-end bon week-end and there's lots of other bon or bonnes as well that you'll hear bonne fin de is another one that you often hear which is have a good end of whatever it might be so bonne fin d'après-midi have a good end of afternoon another one that you often hear which is have a good end of whatever it might be so bonne fin d'après-midi have a good end of afternoon So lots of different ways that you will kind of sign off in a enjoy the rest of your whatever it might be. So lots of different ways that you will kind of sign off in a enjoy the rest of your whatever it might be.

In terms of answering this, In terms of answering this, you can just literally as easy as repeating it back. you can just literally as easy as repeating it back. So, So, bonjourner, bonjourner, bonjourner, bonjourner, and that's it. and that's it. Bonsoir, Bonsoir, bonsoir, bonsoir, and off you go.

and off you go. So you can repeat the words, So you can repeat the words, completely repeat it. completely repeat it.

Have a good day, Have a good day, have a good day, have a good day, and off you go. and off you go. There's another way that you can do it. There's another way that you can do it. There's a few different ways that you can say it.

There's a few different ways that you can say it. it but another way that's quite an easy way to remember I think is to say pareillement. it but another way that's quite an easy way to remember I think is to say pareillement. I've put here the phonetic spelling of it as well so that you can hear how it or you can read how it sounds so pareillement think about parallel it's like it's parallel like I want it to be the same as you it's I've put here the phonetic spelling of it as well so that you can hear how it or you can read how it sounds so pareillement think about parallel it's like it's parallel like I want it to be the same as you it's it's almost like saying likewise in English pareillement it's almost like saying likewise in English pareillement So whichever one of those you feel most comfortable with, So whichever one of those you feel most comfortable with, have a practice.

have a practice. Or just repeating it back, Or just repeating it back, bonjourner. bonjourner. You can also say and you too, You can also say and you too, et vous aussi, et vous aussi, if you want to use that. if you want to use that.

But pareillement is a really straightforward one as long as it sticks in your head. But pareillement is a really straightforward one as long as it sticks in your head. And lastly, And lastly, we're going to say goodbye.

we're going to say goodbye. So the most common way of saying goodbye is just saying au revoir, So the most common way of saying goodbye is just saying au revoir, au revoir, au revoir, au revoir, au revoir, until the re-see, until the re-see, until we see each other again, until we see each other again, au revoir. au revoir.

When French people say this, When French people say this, it sometimes sounds super quick and it sounds like au revoir. it sometimes sounds super quick and it sounds like au revoir. You can hardly hear half of the letters in it. You can hardly hear half of the letters in it. But that's the way to say goodbye.

But that's the way to say goodbye. Au revoir. Au revoir. Au revoir.

Au revoir. If you know that you're going to be seeing the person a bit later, If you know that you're going to be seeing the person a bit later, you can say, you can say, À plus tard. À plus tard.

À plus tard. À plus tard. À plus tard.

À plus tard. And sometimes they even shorten it just to à plus. And sometimes they even shorten it just to à plus.

À plus. À plus. So, So, à plus tard means until. à plus tard means until.

À is like till, À is like till, too. too. And then plus means more. And then plus means more.

And then tard is late, And then tard is late, like later. like later. We've got the word tardiness in English.

We've got the word tardiness in English. It means lateness. It means lateness.

So, So, tard is like... tard is like... So, So, à plus tard. à plus tard.

See you later. See you later. Two more late. Two more late.

See you later. See you later. À plus tard. À plus tard. And we've also got à bientôt.

And we've also got à bientôt. À bientôt. À bientôt. À bientôt is see you soon.

À bientôt is see you soon. So, So, we're not going to see them that day, we're not going to see them that day, probably, probably, but we're going to see them soon. but we're going to see them soon.

So, So, à bientôt. à bientôt. À bientôt. À bientôt. But au revoir is the one that we would use as a kind of standard one for most people.

But au revoir is the one that we would use as a kind of standard one for most people. unless we're going to be definitely seeing them later, unless we're going to be definitely seeing them later, we're definitely seeing them soon. we're definitely seeing them soon.

So, So, au revoir, au revoir, à plus tard, à plus tard, ou à bientôt. ou à bientôt. And here's a little recap for you.

And here's a little recap for you. So, So, remember, remember, bonjour only, bonjour only, not any other bon... not any other bon... Bonjour only until around five-ish, Bonjour only until around five-ish, when it becomes bonsoir. when it becomes bonsoir.

You can say salut or coucou, You can say salut or coucou, but it is more informal, but it is more informal, especially coucou. especially coucou. It's polite still to say bonjour madame or bonjour monsieur after bonjour and bonsoir.

It's polite still to say bonjour madame or bonjour monsieur after bonjour and bonsoir. If you see someone twice in one day or one evening, If you see someone twice in one day or one evening, have a go at saying rebonjour or rebonsoir when you see them again. have a go at saying rebonjour or rebonsoir when you see them again. ça va can be the question and the answer for how are you ça va?

ça va can be the question and the answer for how are you ça va? ça va? ça va? when you want to ask them back and you after ça va think about who you're talking to and choose either et toi or et vous depending on whether they're somebody that you're informal with or somebody that you don't know quite so well yet when you want to ask them back and you after ça va think about who you're talking to and choose either et toi or et vous depending on whether they're somebody that you're informal with or somebody that you don't know quite so well yet Expect a bonne journée or bonne soirée when you're leaving a shop or when you're finishing a conversation. Expect a bonne journée or bonne soirée when you're leaving a shop or when you're finishing a conversation.

And you can either just copy that phrase back or have a go at saying pareillement. And you can either just copy that phrase back or have a go at saying pareillement. Pareillement. Pareillement.

And lastly, And lastly, when you're saying goodbye, when you're saying goodbye, you can say au revoir, you can say au revoir. or if you're planning on seeing that person later, Or if you're planning on seeing that person later, à plus tard, à plus tard. or if you know you'll see that person soon, Or if you know you'll see that person soon, à bientôt.

à bientôt. Okay, I hope you enjoyed that today. you found something in that that helped you.

Every week we will be bringing something different for all different levels of learner, so keep tuned. And you will find, if you look in the link below, that there is a link for a free download that you can click on there and you will get a cheat sheet directly to your inbox. See you next time. Au revoir.

Transcript for:Essential French Greetings and Farewells

Transcript for:
Essential French Greetings and Farewells