Used to greet someone during the day. It is the standard polite way to say hello in French.
Usage
Bonjour is the safe, all-purpose daytime greeting in French, appropriate in formal and informal settings alike. Use it when meeting or addressing someone for the first time in a day. Switch to bonsoir in the evening.
Examples
Bonjour, comment allez-vous ?
Hello, how are you?
Elle a dit bonjour en entrant dans le bureau.
She said hello when she walked into the office.
Bonjour à tous !
Hello everyone!
Le professeur a dit bonjour à la classe.
The teacher said hello to the class.
Bonjour, je voudrais réserver une table.
Hello, I would like to book a table.
Common mistakes
Using bonjour in the evening, when bonsoir is expected, sounds off to native speakers. Bonjour is not used as a verb.
Incorrect
Correct
Bonjour, il est 21h.
Bonsoir, il est 21h.
Similar words
salut
coucou
allô
salutation
bonsoir
A hello or greeting
noun
everyday
neutral
A greeting or expression of hello. Used in expressions such as dire bonjour ('to say hello') or passer le bonjour à quelqu’un ('to send someone’s regards').
Usage
As a noun, bonjour appears mainly in conversational expressions such as dis-lui bonjour de ma part ('say hello for me'). In formal correspondence, salutations is usually preferred.
Examples
Dis-lui bonjour de ma part.
Say hello to them for me.
Je lui ai envoyé un petit bonjour.
I sent them a little hello.
Un rapide bonjour suffit dans ce cas.
A quick hello is enough in this case.
Elle m’a fait un signe de la main pour me dire bonjour.
She waved hello to me.
Passe le bonjour à ta famille.
Send my regards to your family.
Common mistakes
In formal correspondence, bonjour as a noun can sound too casual. Mes salutations is the correct formal alternative.
Incorrect
Correct
Veuillez lui transmettre mon bonjour officiel.
Veuillez lui transmettre mes salutations.
Similar words
salut
salutation
coucou
signe
signe de la main
Usage
Bonjour fits all daytime contexts, formal or informal. Switch to bonsoir in the evening. As a noun, it appears in conversational phrases like dis-lui bonjour de ma part.
Common mistakes
Saying bonjour late in the evening is the most common slip: Bonjour, il est 21h instead of Bonsoir, il est 21h. Bonjour is not used as a verb.
Etymology
From Old French bon jour, combining bon ('good') and jour ('day'), literally 'good day'. Used as a conventional greeting since the Middle Ages. The spelling evolved from bon jor to bonjour in the 13th century. Comparable to Spanish buenos días and Italian buongiorno.
FAQ
What does bonjour mean in English?
Bonjour means 'hello' or 'good day'. It is the standard French greeting used during the day.
When should I use bonjour instead of bonsoir?
Use bonjour during the day. In the evening, switch to bonsoir ('good evening').
Is bonjour formal or informal?
Bonjour is neutral and appropriate in both formal and informal situations during the day.
What is the origin of bonjour?
Bonjour comes from Old French bon jour, meaning 'good day'. It combines bon ('good') and jour ('day') and has been used as a greeting since the Middle Ages.
What are synonyms for bonjour?
Common alternatives are salut (informal, like 'hi'), coucou (very casual, like 'hey'), and allô (used when answering the phone).
Comments & contributions
Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Newest
Top
Active
Fresh Cardinal
Jun 26
Chez nous on dit bonjou en creole martiniquais, presque pareil mais sans le r
1
Reply
Contribution
Calm Camel
Jun 25
My aunt in Quebec says bonjour when she leaves a shop sometimes. First time I brought friends from Lyon they honestly thought the cashier was starting over again
4
Reply
Lively Gazelle
Jun 28
In France that would confuse me for half a second, tbh
0
Contribution
Rapid Raccoon
Jun 20
rebonjour is real but dont overuse it. It is what you say when you run into the same person again and both of you know its slightly funny, not a normal second hello in a formal mail
2
Reply
Eager Puma
Jun 20
yeah at work people also just write re in chat. very casual though
1
Contribution
Dashing Okapi
Jun 19
i always forget that bonne apres-midi is not a hello in France, its for leaving. English brain wants to use it like good afternoon and nope
2
Reply
Contribution
Pale Rabbit
Jun 15
For emails, Bonjour is still the default even if you are writing late. Bonsoir in a work email at 11pm looks oddly literal to me, unless the message is really being read right away.
1
Reply
Contribution
Hidden Lynx
Jun 15
At the pharmacy or bakery, the bonjour is basically step 1 of the request. Starting straight with I need can come off cold, even if your French sentence is perfect. Bonjour madame, then ask.