Learn French Informal Greetings: Say 'Hey' and 'What's Up?' to Friends
Master casual French greetings like Salut, Ça va ?, and Quoi de neuf ? for friends and peers, and learn when to use them instead of formal Bonjour.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In French, the greeting you choose depends heavily on who you are talking to. With friends, classmates, and people your own age, you can drop the formal Bonjour and use relaxed expressions like Salut, Ça va ?, or Quoi de neuf ?. This lesson teaches you the most common informal greetings, how they change with the time of day, and how to avoid sounding too stiff or too rude. You will also learn a few slangy alternatives and regional differences, so you can greet people naturally in everyday French.
By the end, you can…
- greet a friend or peer in French using informal expressions like Salut and Ça va ?
- choose an appropriate informal greeting for different times of day and situations
- recognize and avoid common mistakes when using informal French greetings
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Salut !
Hi! / Hey!
sa-LÜ
The most common informal greeting for friends and peers. Use it at any time of day. Never use it with a boss, teacher, or stranger unless they invite you to.
Ça va ?
How's it going? / You okay?
sa VA
Literally 'it goes?' Used as a casual 'How are you?' among friends. It can also mean 'Are you okay?' if someone seems upset. The answer is usually Ça va or Ça va bien.
Quoi de neuf ?
What's up? / What's new?
kwa də NÖF
Very common among young people and friends. It asks for news. You can answer with Pas grand-chose ('Not much') or Rien de spécial ('Nothing special').
Coucou !
Hey there! / Hi!
ku-KU
Warm and affectionate, often used with close friends, family, or in text messages. It can sound too cute for casual acquaintances, so save it for people you are close to.
Bonjour !
Hello! / Good morning!
bõ-ZHUUR
Standard and polite. It works in almost any situation, but with friends it can sound a bit formal. You can still use it with friends, but Salut is more relaxed.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Informal greetings often come with a follow-up question. The pattern is: greeting + ça va ? For example, Salut, ça va ? or Coucou, ça va ? You can also use Quoi de neuf ? on its own. To answer, use Ça va, merci or Ça va bien. If you want to ask back, say Et toi ? ('And you?'). Note that French has no single word for 'hey' that works everywhere; Salut is the closest general equivalent, while Coucou is warmer and Quoi de neuf ? is more like 'What's up?'.
When to use it
Use informal greetings with friends, classmates, siblings, and people you already know well. In the morning, you can still say Salut or Bonjour; French does not have a separate informal 'good morning' like English 'morning'. In the evening, informal greetings stay the same: Salut works, but Bonsoir is more polite and can be used with friends too. Avoid Salut with strangers, elders, or in professional settings unless they use it first. In Quebec, informal greetings like Allô or Comment ça va ? are common; in France, Salut and Ça va ? are the default. In Belgium and Switzerland, you may hear Salut as well, but Bonjour remains very frequent.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Salut ! Ça va ?
Hey! How's it going?sa-LÜ! sa VA?Ça va bien, merci. Et toi ?
I'm doing well, thanks. And you?sa va bjɛ̃, mɛr-SI. e TWA?Ça va. Quoi de neuf ?
I'm good. What's up?sa VA. kwa də NÖF?Pas grand-chose. On se voit plus tard ?
Not much. See you later?pa ɡʁɑ̃-ʃoz. õ sə vwa ply taʁ?A little context goes a long way
French informal greetings are not just about words; they signal closeness. Using Salut with a stranger can seem overly familiar, while using Bonjour with a close friend can feel distant. In France, it is common to greet with a cheek kiss (la bise) among friends, but the number of kisses varies by region. In Quebec, informal greetings may include Allô, and the informal tu is standard even with acquaintances. Always pay attention to how the other person greets you; mirroring their register is the safest strategy.
One thing to watch for
Using Salut with a teacher, boss, or someone you just met.
Try this instead: Salut is only for friends and peers. With anyone else, use Bonjour (or Bonsoir in the evening). For example, say Bonjour, madame to a teacher, not Salut, madame. If you are unsure, start with Bonjour; the other person may switch to Salut, and then you can too.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You see your friend Marie at 3 p.m. What is a natural informal greeting?
Show a sample answer
Salut, ça va ?
Salut works at any time of day with friends, and adding ça va ? makes it a friendly question. You could also say Coucou, ça va ? if you are close.
2Your friend asks 'Quoi de neuf ?' What is a suitable short answer?
Show a sample answer
Pas grand-chose.
Pas grand-chose means 'not much' and is a common reply. You could also say Rien de spécial ('nothing special') or Ça va.
3You meet your new boss in the morning. Should you say Salut ? Why or why not?
Show a sample answer
No, you should say Bonjour.
Salut is informal and can seem disrespectful with a boss. Bonjour is the standard polite greeting. In the evening, use Bonsoir.
Use Salut, Ça va ?, and Quoi de neuf ? with friends and peers, but keep Bonjour for anyone you do not know well. When in doubt, start formal and switch to informal only if the other person does.
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