In this workshop, you will practice greeting a friend or peer in French using informal expressions. You will listen to short recordings, understand what each line means, and then try speaking both roles in a simple exchange. The focus is on friendly, casual situations. You will also learn how to respond when someone asks how you are and how to ask what is new. By the end, you should feel more comfortable using these greetings in real conversations with people you know well.
Warm and Casual Greetings
When you meet a friend, you can choose from several informal greetings. The most common one is «Salut !», which means 'Hi!' or 'Hey!' and works at any time of day. Another friendly option is «Coucou !», which is warm and affectionate. It is often used with close friends, family, or in text messages. Both are casual, so save them for people you know well. If you are not sure which one to use, «Salut !» is a safe choice for most friends and peers. These greetings set a relaxed tone and show that you are happy to see the person.
Asking How Someone Is
After saying hello, you can ask how your friend is doing. A very common question is «Ça va ?», which literally means 'it goes?' but is used like 'How's it going?' or 'You okay?' among friends. It is a casual way to check in. If you want to ask what is new, you can use «Quoi de neuf ?», which means 'What's up?' or 'What's new?' This is especially popular among young people. Both questions are informal and work well with people you already know. When someone asks you «Ça va ?», you can answer with 'Ça va' or 'Ça va bien' to say you are fine or doing well.
A Short Friendly Exchange
Here is a short dialogue between two friends. Person A says «Salut ! Ça va ?», which means 'Hey! How's it going?' Person B replies with «Ça va bien, merci. Et toi ?», meaning 'I'm doing well, thanks. And you?' Then Person A answers with «Ça va. Quoi de neuf ?», which means 'I'm good. What's up?' Finally, Person B responds with «Pas grand-chose. On se voit plus tard ?», meaning 'Not much. See you later?' This exchange shows how you can greet a friend, ask how they are, respond, and then ask what is new. Notice that the questions and answers are short and relaxed. You can use this pattern in many casual situations.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Salut !
Hi! / Hey!
sa-LÜ
Ça va ?
How's it going? / You okay?
sa VA
Quoi de neuf ?
What's up? / What's new?
kwa də NÖF
Coucou !
Hey there! / Hi!
ku-KU
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Salut ! Ça va ?
Hey! How's it going?Ça va bien, merci. Et toi ?
I'm doing well, thanks. And you?Ça va. Quoi de neuf ?
I'm good. What's up?Pas grand-chose. On se voit plus tard ?
Not much. See you later?Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Exchange: Greet and Respond
Imagine you meet a friend in the hallway. You will play both roles. First, listen to the recording of Person A and repeat it. Then listen to Person B and repeat. Use the recordings to guide your pronunciation.
Your task: Listen to «Salut ! Ça va ?» and say it out loud. Then listen to «Ça va bien, merci. Et toi ?» and say it out loud. Next, listen to «Ça va. Quoi de neuf ?» and say it out loud. Finally, listen to «Pas grand-chose. On se voit plus tard ?» and say it out loud. Try to copy the rhythm and intonation you hear.
Reply Comprehension: Choose the Right Response
You will hear a question and then choose the best reply from two options. This helps you understand what someone is asking and how to answer appropriately.
Your task: Listen to «Ça va ?». Which reply fits better: 'Ça va bien, merci' or 'Pas grand-chose'? Then listen to «Quoi de neuf ?». Which reply fits better: 'Ça va bien, merci' or 'Pas grand-chose'? Say your chosen reply out loud.
Recall and Role-Play: Be Both Friends
Now you will recall the full exchange from memory. Imagine you are Person A first, then Person B. Use the recordings only to check yourself after you try.
Your task: Say the entire exchange from memory: start with «Salut ! Ça va ?», then «Ça va bien, merci. Et toi ?», then «Ça va. Quoi de neuf ?», then «Pas grand-chose. On se voit plus tard ?». Try to do it without listening. After you finish, listen to the recordings to see how you did.
Common questions
Can I use these greetings with anyone?
These greetings are informal, so they are best for friends, peers, and people you know well. For someone like a boss, teacher, or stranger, you would use more formal language. The recordings here are all casual, so practice them with people you are close to.
What if I forget a line during the role-play?
That is normal. Just listen to the recording again and repeat it. You can also pause and rewind as many times as you need. The goal is to practice and build confidence, not to be perfect on the first try.
Sources and further reading
- french: greet friends casuallyChecked September 2026
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