Whether you remember it as a '90s brand that gave the world Eva Herzigova in a bust-enhancing FCUK bra or a cult film about a heroin-smuggling gang led by French TV star Jean-Claude Jehan, the word hello is an essential part of the English language. In France, however, it can have a whole host of different meanings and is a key building block in the language's vocabulary.
The most common way to greet someone is simply to say bonjour. This is very informal and can be used in any situation. If you are addressing someone older than you, or someone who is a peer, then you can add m'am/ma'ame or m'sieur/sieurs to the end of your greeting to make it more polite. For a group of people you can also use et tous, which is a more formal greeting.
Another very casual way to greet people is to ask how they are. This can be done in a variety of ways; the most traditional is Comment vas-tu? This literally translates as "How are you doing?" and it's a great way to get to know people. You can also use quoi de neuf? which means "what's new?" and is often heard in films - Bugs Bunny says it, for example.
Depending on the context, you can also say enchante/enchantee if you are greeting someone who is very familiar to you. This is a lovely way to show that you are pleased to see them, and can be used for any number of people or gender.
You will often hear the phrase bonjour The french connection hello on the phone, especially if you are calling a French person. It is a good idea to learn this word before you travel to France, as it will be used a lot. You may also hear allo, which is pronounced like the question 'allo?' and is used to greet people over the phone in a very informal way.
The kissing of the cheeks is also a very common greeting in France. This is a very intimate gesture and it can be used to greet friends and family, but it is more likely to be used in business situations. Some people prefer to only kiss one cheek, while others like to do both. This can be a little awkward to hear in the UK, but in France it is very normal. It is also possible to give a three-kiss salute, which is known as a la bise. This is often used to welcome children into a school or workplace, and is seen quite frequently in movies.
