Greetings & Introductions
Essential phrases for meeting people: with phonetic pronunciation for every phrase.
TU vs VOUS: the most socially important choice in French. TU = singular informal: use with friends, family, children, classmates, colleagues you know well, and animals. Once you use TU with someone, it usually stays
VOUS = (1) singular formal/polite: strangers, older people, clients, teachers, doctors, your boss, anyone you just met in a professional context; (2) any PLURAL (two or more people, always)
When in doubt, ALWAYS start with VOUS: it is never rude. Switching from VOUS to TU is a warm social gesture; switching the wrong way can offend
GREETINGS by time and register: Bonjour (hello) (hello, all day, all situations), Bonsoir (good evening) (good evening, after ~6 pm), Salut (hi) (hi, informal only, tu-level), Allô (hello (phone)) (on the phone only)
FAREWELLS: À bientôt (see you soon) (see you soon), Au revoir (goodbye) (goodbye, all situations)
- Tu parles français ? (friend) — Do you speak French? (to a friend)
- Vous parlez français ? (stranger) — Do you speak French? (formal)
- Je suis étudiant(e). — I am a student.
- D'où venez-vous ? — Where are you from? (formal)