You already know the words Bonjour, Salut and Bises, but when someone greets you in real time, do you freeze or answer too quietly? This workshop gives you three spoken role-plays that force a complete reply: greeting plus short state plus return question. You will practise choosing between vous and toi, answering Ça va ?, and handling a cheek-kiss introduction without panicking. Each exercise adds one complication so your mouth learns the pattern before your brain debates it.
Prepare your two default replies before you speak
Before any role-play, decide which register you are in. For formal situations, your default is Bonjour, ça va ? followed by Très bien, merci. Et vous ? For informal situations, your default is Salut, ça va ? followed by Ça va, merci. Et toi ? Say each pair aloud five times slowly, then five times at normal speed. The goal is not perfect pronunciation but automatic pairing: when you hear Bonjour, your mouth should reach for vous; when you hear Salut, it should reach for toi. If you are not feeling great, prepare one honest alternative: Comme ci, comme ça or Pas mal. These are complete replies, not fragments, so you can use them without adding anything. Write your two defaults on a card, but do not read from it during the role-play. Glance once, then put it face down. Your preparation is done when you can say both pairs without looking.
Handle the harder turn: when the greeting includes a gesture or a question you did not expect
The hardest moment is not the first Bonjour; it is the second turn, when the other person adds a cheek-kiss, a handshake, or a follow-up question. If someone leans in for a bise, you do not need new words. Keep your reply short: Bonjour, ça va ? The gesture is a greeting habit, not a romantic signal, and it is common in many parts of France and other French-speaking areas but not universal. If you are unsure, mirror the other person: if they offer a hand, shake it and say Bonjour, enchanté(e). If they ask a question after your reply, do not panic. Answer with one short state and return the question. For example, if they say Et vous ? after your Très bien, merci, you can answer Très bien, merci. Et vous ? and keep the exchange moving. The key is to keep your turn short and complete, not to invent a long sentence. If you lose the thread, repeat the last phrase you understood and add Et vous ? or Et toi ? to keep the conversation moving.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Bonjour, ça va ?
Hello, how are you?
bon-ZHOOR sah VAH
Salut, ça va ?
Hi, how are you?
sah-LOO sah VAH
Très bien, merci. Et vous ?
Very well, thank you. And you?
tray BYAN mehr-SEE ay VOO
Ça va, merci. Et toi ?
I'm fine, thanks. And you?
sah VAH mehr-SEE ay TWAH
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Bonjour !
Hello!Bonjour, ça va ?
Hello, how are you?Ça va, merci. Et vous ?
I'm fine, thanks. And you?Très bien, merci. Bonne journée !
Very well, thank you. Have a good day!Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Bakery counter: formal bonjour with a stranger
You walk into a small bakery in the morning. The baker, an older woman you do not know, looks up and says Bonjour ! in a neutral, polite tone. There is one other customer behind you. You are not in a hurry, but you want to order a croissant after the greeting.
Your task: Say your full reply aloud: start with Bonjour, then add a short check-in with Ça va ? Use the formal vous form. Then add one short sentence to order: Je voudrais un croissant, s'il vous plaît. Speak at a normal volume, not a whisper. Your goal is to produce greeting + check-in + order without pausing more than two seconds between parts.
Classmate reunion: informal salut with a surprise bise
You run into a classmate you know well in the hallway. She smiles and says Salut ! Then she leans in for a cheek-kiss greeting. You were not expecting the gesture, and you are holding a notebook in one hand. Two other students are nearby, talking loudly.
Your task: Say your informal reply aloud: Salut, ça va ? Then answer as if she asked Ça va ? back. Use toi, not vous. Do not mention the kiss or apologize for the notebook. Keep your hands still and your voice steady. After your reply, ask one simple follow-up: Tu es en retard aussi ? (Are you late too?) Use the informal tu form.
Office introduction: bonjour with a handshake decision
You are introduced to a new colleague at a small office. Your manager says: Voici Claire, notre nouvelle collègue. Claire extends her hand and says Bonjour, enchanté(e). You are not sure whether to use tu or vous, and two other colleagues are watching. You want to make a good first impression without sounding stiff.
Your task: Say your reply aloud: Bonjour, ça va ? Then add a short state and a return question. Choose vous because you do not know her well. After the handshake, ask one work-related question: Vous travaillez dans quel service ? (Which department do you work in?) Keep your tone warm but formal. Do not switch to tu during this first exchange.
Common questions
I keep mixing up vous and toi when I am nervous. What can I do in the moment?
Mirror the other person's register. If they said Bonjour and used vous, reply with vous. If they said Salut and used toi, reply with toi. When you are unsure, stay with vous; it is safer with strangers and older people. You can always switch later if they invite you to tutoyer.
Do I have to do the cheek-kiss if someone leans in?
No. The words stay the same: Bonjour, ça va ? You can offer a handshake instead, especially in professional settings. The bise is a regional greeting habit, common in many French-speaking areas but not universal. Mirroring the other person's gesture is a practical guide, not a rule.
What if I answer Ça va ? but I am actually not fine?
You can use Comme ci, comme ça or Pas mal instead of Très bien. These are complete, natural replies. In a short greeting exchange, you are not required to give details. If the conversation continues, you can add one simple reason later.
Sources and further reading
- french: responding to greetingsChecked September 2026
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