Modern Foreign Languages
Beginner
60 mins
Teacher/Student led
+85 XP

Greeting Friends in French

In this lesson, you will learn essential French greetings for friends, distinguishing between formal options like Bonjour and informal ones like Salut. Explore vocabulary through word tables, practise pronunciation with tips and flashcards, play matching games, complete worksheets, and discuss usage to build confidence in everyday conversations.

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    1 - Welcome

    Illustration for WelcomeImagine you're in Paris, walking past the Eiffel Tower, and a friend spots you from across the street. What do you say to greet them in French? Today, you'll discover how to say hello like a true Parisian!

    • Learn key French greetings for friends and adults.
    • Explore formal and informal ways to say hello and ask how someone is.
    • Practice with interactive word tables, flashcards, and matching games.
    • Test your skills with worksheets and class discussion.


    By the end of this lesson: You'll confidently greet anyone in French, knowing when to use formal or informal language.

    2 - French Greetings

    Word TableThis word table lays out the vocabulary clearly, side by side in English and French, so you can see everything at a glance.

    Take a moment to explore the table and tap on any French word to hear its pronunciation—perfect for getting comfortable with how they sound. It's your go-to spot for quick checks and confident practice as you dive deeper into conversations.

    3 - Formal and Informal Greetings

    Illustration for Formal and Informal GreetingsIn French, how you greet someone depends on who they are and how well you know them. There are two main types: formal greetings for adults, teachers, or people you don't know well, and informal greetings for friends and people your age.

    Formal Greetings:

    • Bonjour - Good morning / Good day (use this most of the time for formal situations).
    • Bonsoir - Good evening (use after about 5pm).
    • Comment allez-vous? - How are you? (formal way).
    • Comment vous appelez-vous? - What's your name? (formal).

    Informal Greetings:

    • Salut - Hi / Bye (like 'hi' to friends).
    • Ça va? - How's it going? (casual way to ask how someone is).
    • Comment tu t'appelles? - What's your name? (informal).
    Remember: Use formal greetings to show respect to adults or strangers. Save informal ones for your friends. Practice switching between them to sound natural!

    4 - Tips

    💡 Top Tips
    • Listen carefully to Salut – the 'u' sounds like 'oo' in 'food', so say 'sah-loo'.
    • Practice Bonjour – say 'bohn-zhoor', with a soft, almost silent 'r' at the end.
    • For Ça va? , pronounce it 'sah vah', with a nasal sound on 'va'.
    • Repeat each word after the audio several times to match the rhythm and intonation.
    • Record yourself saying the greetings and compare to the audio to improve your pronunciation.

    5 - Flip and Learn

    FlashcardsIt's time to build your French vocabulary hands-on. These interactive flashcards let you flip through key phrases at your own pace, revealing English translations and hearing the correct pronunciation with each turn.

    Get ready to test your memory and boost your confidence in speaking French—flip a card and see what you discover!

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    This lesson is copyright of Coding Ireland 2017 - 2025. Unauthorised use, copying or distribution is not allowed.
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