The standard word for "good morning" in French is "bonjour", but there are a couple of other things you can say to greet someone in the morning in French. Here are some of the most common.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Basic "hello"
Step 1. Say "bonjour"
This is the common expression used to say hello and stands for "good morning", "good afternoon", "good day" and "hello".
- This is the standard French greeting for saying "good morning" and you can use it in all French-speaking countries.
- This expression is the combination of the French terms "bon" and "jour". Bon means "good" and jour means "day".
- Pronounce bonjour as bon-jiur, with a sweet j.
Method 2 of 3: Specific Greeting Depending on the Person
Step 1. Add "madame", "mademoiselle" or "monsieur" to the end
A polite way to say hello to someone is to add one of these words after "bonjour".
- First of all say "bonjour".
- Madame is the French term equivalent to our "lady". Use it with married women and pronounce it "madam".
- Mademoiselle is equivalent to our "young lady". Use it with unmarried women and pronounce it "madmuasèll".
- Monsieur is equivalent to the Italian "sir". Use it with all men, married and unmarried, and pronounce it "months".
Step 2. Greet a group of people with "bonjour à tous"
- Translated, à tous means "to all". The expression therefore means "good morning everyone" or "hello everyone".
- This expression is used more to greet an audience than a group of friends or relatives. Generally, it is considered more polite and more common to greet each person in a group individually, rather than generically. But if for some reason you can't, "bonjour à tous" is the recommended greeting.
- The pronunciation of bonjour à tous is bonsgiur a tus.
Method 3 of 3: More Morning Greetings
Step 1. In certain situations you can use "bon matin" or "bon matinée"
Both expressions mean "good morning", although they are not often used as a form of greeting.
- This greeting is rarely used in France, but can be used in Québec as an informal greeting between people in confidence, such as family members, friends, classmates or fellow friends.
- Matin and matinee both mean "morning".
- The pronounciation of bon matin is bon matèn.
- The pronunciation of bon matinée is bon matiné.
Step 2. Wake up someone with "Réveille-toi
This is the casual way to order someone to wake up when they are sleeping.
- Use this order with children or people you live with. The expression is equivalent to our "wake up!"
- The term derives from the reflexive verb "se réveiller", which means "to wake up".
- The pronunciation of réveille-toi is revèi tuà.
Step 3. Say "Lève-toi
"Like" réveille-toi "," lève-toi "is an imperative used to order someone to stand up.
- Use this expression with loved ones you live with, especially children and grandchildren. This is a colloquial term, do not use it with people you are not familiar with.
- The phrase comes from the French reflexive verb "se lever", which means "to get up".
- The pronunciation of lève-toi is lev tuà.
