How to Say Good Morning in French: Bonjour & Bonne Matinée

If you’ve ever walked into a Parisian bakery and hesitated before saying bonjour, you’re not alone. The standard greeting works in almost any situation, but the French draw a clear line between morning, afternoon, and evening. Understanding when to use bonjour versus bonne matinée—and what to avoid—will make your interactions smoother and more authentic.

Standard greeting: Bonjour (MezzoGuild) ·
Used until: Evening (≈6 p.m., Preply) ·
Informal alternative: Salut (Rocket Languages)

Quick snapshot

1Standard Morning Greeting

• Bonjour is the all-purpose morning greeting (MezzoGuild)
• Used from morning until around 6 p.m. (Preply)
• Appropriate in both formal and informal settings (Preply)

2Informal Greetings

• Salut – hi/hey, used with friends (MezzoGuild)
• Coucou – extremely familiar, for close friends (Preply)
• Allô – only on the telephone (Preply)

3Formal Greetings

• Bonjour madame/monsieur is the polite default (Preply)
• Bonne matinée is a leave-taking phrase, not a greeting (Rocket Languages)
• “Bon matin” does not exist in French (MezzoGuild)

4Timing & Usage

• Bonjour transitions to bonsoir after 6 p.m. (Preply) (iTranslate)
• Written as one word, never “bon jour” (MezzoGuild) (iTranslate)
• Pronunciation: nasal “on” + soft “zh” (iTranslate)

A few core facts anchor the different greetings and their contexts. The table below shows how the most common options map to formality and timing.

Greeting	Register	Time of day	Source
Bonjour	Formal & informal	Morning – 6 p.m.	MezzoGuild
Salut	Informal	Any time	Rocket Languages
Bonsoir	Formal & informal	After 6 p.m.	Preply
Bonne matinée	Leave-taking	Morning	Rocket Languages

Bottom line: Bonjour is safe for all morning situations. Bonne matinée is what you say when leaving, not when arriving.

How do French people say good morning?

Formal and informal variations

• Bonjour – the default, works for anyone (MezzoGuild)
• Salut – casual, use with friends (Rocket Languages)
• Coucou – very familiar, close relationships (Preply)
• Allô – only for phone calls (Preply)

French speakers choose their greeting based on the relationship and the context. In a business meeting, bonjour with a title (bonjour madame, bonjour monsieur) is standard. Among friends, salut or even coucou sets a relaxed tone. The cultural expectation is clear: using the wrong register can feel cold or overly familiar (Preply).

Pronunciation matters, too. Bonjour begins with a nasal “on” sound (like the “on” in “song”) and the jour uses a soft “zh” – not a hard “j” (iTranslate). Avoid saying “bon‑jor” or “bon‑jour” with an English “j.”

The implication: bonjour covers nearly all situations, but the flexibility of salut and coucou is reserved for close relationships.

Regional differences and common questions

• In France, bonjour is used strictly until evening; after sunset it becomes bonsoir (MezzoGuild).
• In some French-speaking regions, bonjour may extend later in the day, but this varies (Preply).
• Bonne matinée is not considered a greeting in most places; it’s used when saying goodbye in the morning (Rocket Languages).

The pattern: the core rule—bonjour for arrival, bonne matinée for departure—is consistent across mainstream French, with only minor local twists that rarely cause confusion.

Is bonjour hi or good morning?

When to use bonjour vs. bonne journée

• Bonjour = “hello” / “good morning” (MezzoGuild)
• Bonne journée = “have a good day” (Rocket Languages)

Many learners confuse these two. Bonjour is what you say when you meet someone; bonne journée is what you say when you leave. Think of the difference between “good morning” and “have a nice day” in English. The French use bonjour exclusively as a greeting, not as a parting phrase (Preply).

Bottom line: Arrive with bonjour, leave with bonne journée. Swap them and you’ll sound odd to a native speaker.

Is bonjour only for morning?

Technically, bonjour literally means “good day,” but in practice it’s used from morning until around 6 p.m. After that, speakers switch to bonsoir (“good evening”). Preply notes that the transition happens after sunset or roughly 6 p.m. So bonjour is not exclusively a morning greeting—it covers the entire daytime.

The implication: for learners, the safest rule is “say bonjour until you see the sun set, then switch to bonsoir.”

What are the 8 greetings in French?

Common greetings list

• Bonjour – hello / good morning (MezzoGuild)
• Salut – hi / bye (informal) (Rocket Languages)
• Bonsoir – good evening (Preply)
• Bonne nuit – good night (bedtime) (Preply)
• Bonne journée – have a good day (parting) (Rocket Languages)
• Bonne soirée – have a good evening (parting) (Preply)
• Coucou – hey! (very familiar) (Preply)
• À bientôt – see you soon (Preply)

These eight cover the most frequent situations. Note that bonne nuit is only said when someone is going to sleep, never as a general greeting. Preply also lists allô (phone only) and bonjour le matin (casual “good morning”) as additional options, though the latter is less common.

The pattern: French has a greeting for each phase of the day and each level of formality. Using the wrong one is a small but noticeable error.

What does ‘à bientôt’ mean?

Other common French farewells

• À bientôt – see you soon (Preply)
• Au revoir – goodbye (general) (Preply)
• À demain – see you tomorrow (Preply)
• À tout à l’heure – see you later (same day) (Preply)
• Bonne journée / bonne soirée – have a good day / evening (parting) (Rocket Languages)

À bientôt is one of the most common ways to say “see you soon” in French. It’s neutral and works in most contexts. The key difference from au revoir is that à bientôt implies you expect to see the person again relatively soon, while au revoir is a simple goodbye (Preply).

Bottom line: À bientôt is safe for most departures. Use à demain when you know you’ll meet the next day, and à tout à l’heure if you’ll meet later the same day.

Can I say ‘je suis bien’?

Common mistakes with ‘je suis bien’

• “Je suis bien” does not mean “I am well” (MezzoGuild)
• The correct phrase for “I am well” is “Je vais bien” (MezzoGuild)

This is a classic trap for English speakers. Je suis bien can be interpreted as “I am comfortable” (e.g., in a chair) or “I am fine” in the sense of being fine with something, but never as a response to “how are you?” (MezzoGuild). The proper reply to “Comment allez-vous?” is “Je vais bien, merci” – never “Je suis bien.”

Another common error is mixing up comment allez-vous? (formal) and comment ça va? (informal). Use the formal version with people you don’t know, and the casual one with friends (Preply).

The implication: master the phrase je vais bien and you’ll avoid a mistake that screams “learner.”

Steps to greet properly in French

1. Choose the right greeting – use bonjour in the morning, bonsoir after 6 p.m. (Preply)
2. Add the title – “Bonjour madame” or “Bonjour monsieur” in formal settings (Preply)
3. Use the right register – salut for friends, coucou for close family (MezzoGuild)
4. Pronounce correctly – nasal “on” + soft “zh” (iTranslate)
5. Part with the right phrase – bonne journée in the morning, bonne soirée in the evening (Rocket Languages)
6. Avoid common pitfalls – never say bon matin, never use je suis bien for “I’m fine” (MezzoGuild)

These steps cover the essentials. With practice, the right greeting will become automatic.

What’s clear and what’s still uncertain

Confirmed facts

• Bonjour is the standard morning greeting in France (MezzoGuild)
• Bonne journée is used when parting in the morning (Rocket Languages)
• Salut is informal and used among friends (MezzoGuild)

What’s unclear

• Whether bonne matinée is considered a proper greeting in all regions (Rocket Languages)
• Usage of bonjour in the evening in some French-speaking areas (Preply)

Expert perspectives on French morning greetings

“Bonjour is the standard way to say good morning in French.”

Berlitz language guide

“The word for Good Morning in French is Bonjour, or sometimes Bonne matinée when you are leaving in the morning.”

Rocket Languages

“Bonjour is the most polite greeting you can use, appropriate for any situation.”

Preply

These sources confirm the central role of bonjour while highlighting the key exception: bonne matinée is a leave-taking phrase, not a greeting.

For learners in the United States or other English-speaking countries, the biggest takeaway is that a simple word like bonjour carries cultural weight. Using it correctly signals respect and awareness. The choice is clear: stick with bonjour for arrivals, learn the parting phrases, and avoid the common pitfalls like je suis bien and bon matin.

For a deeper dive into regional variations and cultural nuances of French morning greetings, see our article on French morning greetings.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say good morning in French to a woman?

You say “Bonjour madame.” If you know her name, you can also use “Bonjour [Name].” The formal title madame is always polite.

How do you reply to good morning in French?

The standard reply is simply “Bonjour” back. If you want to add a friendly touch, you can say “Bonjour, comment allez-vous?” (formal) or “Bonjour, ça va?” (informal).

What is the difference between bonjour and bonne journée?

Bonjour is a greeting used when you meet someone. Bonne journée means “have a good day” and is used when you leave. They are not interchangeable.

How do you say ‘very good morning’ in French?

There is no direct equivalent. You can say “Bonjour” emphatically or use “Très bonjour” in informal contexts, but it’s not standard. Better to simply say “Bonjour” with a smile.

Is it correct to say ‘bonne matinée’ as a greeting?

No. Bonne matinée is a leave-taking phrase, meaning “have a good morning.” Use it when leaving, not when arriving.

What is the proper way to greet a French person in the morning?

Say “Bonjour” (with the person’s title if formal). Add “comment allez-vous?” if you want to ask how they are. Keep it simple and polite.