French Greeting Replies: How to Respond to Bonjour, Salut and Bises
Learn natural French replies to bonjour, salut and cheek-kiss greetings. Get the direct answer, register tips, a dialogue and practice to respond confidently.
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When someone greets you in French, the reply turn is where you show you understood and keep the exchange going. The safest direct answer to Bonjour is Bonjour, followed by a short check-in such as Ça va ? or a polite follow-up like Et vous ? For Salut, reply Salut, ça va ? In a cheek-kiss greeting, the words stay simple: Bonjour, ça va ? The physical gesture is a greeting ritual, not a romantic signal. This lesson focuses on replying, not on initiating, and gives you reusable patterns for formal and informal situations.
By the end, you can…
- reply naturally to Bonjour and Salut in the right register.
- respond to a French cheek-kiss greeting with appropriate words and a follow-up question.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Bonjour, ça va ?
Hello, how are you?
bon-ZHOOR sah VAH
A safe reply to Bonjour in shops, offices or with strangers. It returns the greeting and asks a simple check-in.
Salut, ça va ?
Hi, how are you?
sah-LOO sah VAH
Use with friends, classmates or people your age you already know. Salut is informal on both sides of the exchange.
Très bien, merci. Et vous ?
Very well, thank you. And you?
tray BYAN mehr-SEE ay VOO
A polite answer to Ça va ? Use vous with strangers, older people, or anyone you address formally.
Ça va, merci. Et toi ?
I'm fine, thanks. And you?
sah VAH mehr-SEE ay TWAH
The informal answer to Ça va ? Use toi with friends, family and peers. It matches a Salut opening.
Bonjour, enchanté(e).
Hello, nice to meet you.
bon-ZHOOR ahn-shahn-TAY
Use when you are introduced to someone new, often during a handshake or a cheek-kiss greeting. Add the feminine -e in writing only.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core reply pattern is: greeting + short state + return question. In formal contexts: Bonjour, ça va ? Très bien, merci. Et vous ? In informal contexts: Salut, ça va ? Ça va, merci. Et toi ? Notice that the return question changes with register: vous is polite or plural, toi is singular informal. You can also answer with Comme ci, comme ça (so-so) or Pas mal (not bad) when you do not want to claim you are great. These are complete, natural replies, not fragments.
When to use it
Use Bonjour as a reply to Bonjour in almost any public situation: entering a bakery, meeting a colleague, or greeting a host. Use Salut only when the other person has already used Salut or when you know them well. If someone greets you with a cheek-kiss, the words remain the same: Bonjour, ça va ? The kiss is a regional greeting habit, common in many parts of France and other French-speaking areas, but not universal. In a professional setting, a handshake with Bonjour, enchanté(e) is often safer. When you are not sure, mirror the other person's register and keep your reply short.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour !
Hello!bon-ZHOORBonjour, ça va ?
Hello, how are you?bon-ZHOOR sah VAHÇa va, merci. Et vous ?
I'm fine, thanks. And you?sah VAH mehr-SEE ay VOOTrès bien, merci. Bonne journée !
Very well, thank you. Have a good day!tray BYAN mehr-SEE bun zhoor-NAYA little context goes a long way
In many French-speaking regions, a cheek-kiss greeting is a normal social ritual between friends, family and sometimes colleagues. The number of kisses varies by area and even by family, so follow the other person's lead. The words stay simple: Bonjour, ça va ? Do not treat the gesture as romantic by default. In formal or unfamiliar settings, a handshake with Bonjour is usually appropriate. When in doubt, a clear Bonjour and a smile are never out of place.
One thing to watch for
Replying to Bonjour with Salut when the other person is a stranger or a staff member.
Try this instead: Mirror the register: answer Bonjour with Bonjour, then add Ça va ? If the other person says Salut first, Salut, ça va ? is fine. For example, a shopkeeper says Bonjour, monsieur; a natural reply is Bonjour, ça va ? rather than Salut.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1A colleague you do not know well says Bonjour. Give a polite two-part reply and ask how they are.
Show a sample answer
Bonjour, ça va ?
This mirrors the formal greeting and adds a simple check-in. Très bien, merci. Et vous ? is also correct if you want to answer a Ça va ? question first.
2Your friend says Salut ! Reply informally and ask how they are.
Show a sample answer
Salut, ça va ?
Salut matches the informal register, and ça va ? is a natural follow-up. Ça va, et toi ? is another valid reply.
3Someone greets you with a cheek-kiss and says Bonjour. What can you say?
Show a sample answer
Bonjour, ça va ?
The words do not need to mention the kiss. Bonjour, enchanté(e) also works if you are meeting the person for the first time. The gesture is a greeting, not a romantic signal.
Reply to Bonjour with Bonjour, and to Salut with Salut. Add Ça va ? and return the question with Et vous ? or Et toi ? Match the other person's register, and keep the cheek-kiss greeting verbal and simple.
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