How do you say "Hi!" in French?

"Hi!" in French is "Salut !". This phrase is commonly used in France.

What does "Salut !" mean in English?

"Salut !" means "Hi!" in English.

👋

How to Say ‘Hi!’ in French

Salut !

sa-loo

[sa-loo]

🇫🇷 In France: [Salut !] is casual. At the school gate it's fine with parents you already know a bit, but [Bonjour !] is the safer default with someone less familiar.

Phrase Breakdown

Salut

[sa-loo]

A casual greeting used with someone you know, like another parent at the school gate.

Example

Au portail, je dis Salut à une maman que je connais.

At the gate, I say hi to a mum I know.

Guides for French learners

Common French Phrases You'll Use Every Day (with Native Audio)The common French phrases and expressions people actually use every day: greetings, polite essentials, reactions and casual slang, with meanings and native audio.“Do You Speak English?” in French, and What to Say When You Don't Speak FrenchHow to say “do you speak English?” in French politely, what you'll hear back, and the phrases for “I don't speak French” and “can you repeat that?”, with audio.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant scenarios were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”

Tom H., 38, Chef

“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”

Nina W., 29, Graduate Student

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer