You have read the explanation of French greetings and goodbyes, and now you want to say them out loud without freezing. This workshop gives you three short role-plays that use the exact phrases from the lesson: Bonjour, Bonsoir, Salut, Comment allez-vous ?, Comment ça va ?, and Au revoir. You will practise choosing the right greeting for a shop, a neighbour, and a friend, then handle a follow-up turn that keeps the conversation going. Each exercise asks you to speak a complete exchange, not just repeat single words, so you build the habit of matching your first word to the rest of your sentence.
Prepare by matching your greeting to the situation
Before you speak, decide three things: the time of day, how well you know the person, and whether the setting is formal or casual. During the day, Bonjour is the safe default when you enter a shop, office, or meet someone new. In the evening, Bonsoir works both when you arrive and when you leave. Salut is only for friends, family, classmates, and people your own age you already know, so avoid it with strangers or in formal settings. Once you have chosen your first word, let it control the question that follows. If you start with Bonjour, keep the formal Comment allez-vous ?. If you start with Salut, use Comment ça va ?. This keeps your tone consistent and prevents the common mistake of mixing a casual greeting with a formal question. When you leave, Au revoir works almost everywhere, while Salut can also mean bye among friends. Say your chosen greeting and question as one connected phrase, not two separate words, because French speakers hear the register in that first combined sound.
Handle the harder turn by listening for the register
The real challenge in a first conversation is not the greeting itself but the turn that follows. Your conversation partner may answer with a different register than you expected, or they may ask you a question back. For example, if you say Bonjour, comment allez-vous ?, the other person might reply with Je vais bien, merci. Et vous ?. That reply keeps the formal vous, so you should continue with the same polite tone. If someone greets you with Salut !, they are inviting an informal exchange, so answer with Comment ça va ? rather than Comment allez-vous ?. Listen for the pronoun vous or tu and the greeting word itself. When you are not sure, mirror the other person’s choice. If they say Bonsoir, you can say Bonsoir back and continue with a neutral question. If they say Au revoir, à bientôt, you can repeat Au revoir and add à bientôt if you feel comfortable. The goal is not to produce a perfect sentence but to keep the exchange moving with a greeting that fits the moment.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Bonjour.
Hello. / Good morning. / Good afternoon.
bohn-ZHOOR
Bonsoir.
Good evening.
bohn-SWAHR
Salut !
Hi! / Bye!
sah-LOO
Comment allez-vous ?
How are you? (formal or plural)
koh-mahn tah-lay VOO
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Bonjour, comment allez-vous ?
Hello, how are you?Bonjour, je vais bien, merci. Et vous ?
Hello, I'm well, thank you. And you?Ça va bien, merci. Vous êtes ici pour le cours ?
I'm well, thank you. Are you here for the class?Oui, c'est ça. Et vous ?
Yes, that's right. And you?Moi aussi. Bon, je dois y aller. Au revoir !
Me too. Well, I have to go. Goodbye!Au revoir, à bientôt !
Goodbye, see you soon!Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
At the bakery counter in the afternoon
You walk into a small bakery at 3 p.m. The person behind the counter is an adult you have never met. You want to buy a baguette, but first you need to greet them properly. There is one other customer waiting behind you.
Your task: Say your greeting and a short question aloud. Start with Bonjour, then add Comment allez-vous ?. After a short pause, say that you would like a baguette, using a simple phrase such as Je voudrais une baguette, s’il vous plaît. Speak clearly enough that someone standing a metre away could hear the difference between your greeting and your request.
Meeting a neighbour in the evening
It is 7 p.m. in your building’s hallway. A neighbour you have greeted once before stops to talk. You are not close friends, but you have spoken briefly. They look like they are on their way out.
Your task: Greet your neighbour with Bonsoir, then ask Comment allez-vous ?. After they answer, say that you are well and that you are just coming home. Keep your tone polite but brief, because they seem to be in a hurry. Use one or two short sentences, and make sure your greeting matches the evening time.
A friend greets you informally at a café
You are sitting at a café with a classmate you know well. They arrive, see you, and say Salut ! with a smile. You have about ten minutes before your next class. The café is busy and you are both standing near the counter.
Your task: Respond to Salut ! with Salut ! and then ask Comment ça va ?. Tell them you are well and that you have ten minutes before class. Use the informal register throughout, and speak at a natural speed. Do not switch to Comment allez-vous ? even if you normally use it with strangers.
Common questions
Can I use Bonjour in the evening?
Bonjour is generally used during the day. From early evening onward, Bonsoir is the safer choice, especially when you arrive somewhere or meet someone. If you are unsure, Bonsoir is polite in most evening situations.
What if I accidentally say Salut to a stranger?
It can sound too casual, but it is not a disaster. You can correct the tone by continuing with a polite phrase such as Bonjour, comment allez-vous ?. The important thing is to notice the register and adjust.
Should I answer Comment allez-vous ? with Je vais bien or Ça va?
Both can work, but Je vais bien, merci. Et vous ? keeps the formal tone that Comment allez-vous ? sets. If someone uses the informal Comment ça va ?, then Ça va bien, merci. Et toi ? is a natural answer. Match your reply to the question you heard.
Sources and further reading
- french: hello and goodbyeChecked September 2026
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