Even if you've never studied French, you surely know several words commonly used in Bulgarian. Among them are some 'delicious' terms like 'ordyovyr' (hors-d'oeuvre) and bon appétit. The grateful 'mersi' and the French concept of time 'déjà vu'. 'Anketa', 'ansambl', and impressive adjectives: exclusive, effective, and interesting – are among the most commonly used French borrowings in Bulgarian. There's no way you don't know the most frequently used greeting in France – bonjour.
You may be able to pronounce bonjour with reasonable success, but you shouldn't rely on this greeting in every situation. 'Bonjour' is equivalent to our 'good day' and is used from morning until dusk. Instead, you can choose a greeting that fits better the context of the situation, depending on the time or company.
In addition to becoming a better conversationalist, there's one more really important reason to familiarize yourself closely with more French greetings. In France, it's considered rude not to greet everyone each time you enter a shop, or when you first start a conversation with a local.
Refresh your knowledge with these 10 French words and phrases that will elevate your level well above the familiar 'bonjour'.
- Bonsoir (good evening).
If it's not day, then it's night – and that means you'll need to 'switch' from bonjour to bonsoir. Bonsoir means 'good evening' and is usually used after 6 p.m. or after dusk. However, you shouldn't confuse this greeting or use it interchangeably with the next one on the list….
2. Bonne nuit (good night).
Bonne nuit means 'good night', but despite its literal translation, most French people don't use it as a greeting during the night. Bonne nuit is a phrase you should use before going to bed as a signal to others that you're retiring.
- Bon après-midi (good afternoon).
This is something like 'good afternoon' and although it's not used very often, bon après-midi can be a wonderful variety. But keep in mind that it's not used at the beginning of a conversation, but at the end. Many French people use bon après-midi when saying goodbye, the way we use the phrase 'see you soon'.
- Salut (hi).
There are quite strict rules about when to use salut. This is an informal greeting and since it's considered unofficial, salut should only be used between close friends.
- Quoi de neuf? (what's up?).
This French phrase translates as 'what's up?' – and can be used as an informative greeting. As you might expect from the Bulgarian equivalent, quoi de neuf is slang, and is also used mainly between friends and family.
- Allô? (hello).
The French version is also used rarely in specific circumstances. You'll hear this word most often when answering a phone call or when others around you are talking on their phones. Sometimes French people (just like us) use 'allô' as a call to someone who is relatively far from them to get their attention. But not if it's about face-to-face communication.
- Coucou? (where are you?).
If salut is informal, coucou is one step further. An unusual greeting that can be loosely interpreted as 'where are you?!' As you can imagine, French culture considers such a shout on the street a little rude, so this slang greeting is meant for specific situations.
8. Bienvenue (welcome).
Bienvenue means 'welcome' and is said when you're a host and greet someone in your home (or the appropriate place/event you're hosting). You might also hear it from a porter greeting you at the entrance of the hotel where you're staying.
- 9. Enchanté (delighted).
The phrase seems to embody French culture, or at least its romantic version. Enchanté is the warm version of 'pleased to meet you' and translates as 'delighted' or 'enchanted'. This is a response to express your pleasure at meeting someone new and to start the conversation in the right way.
- Comment allez-vous (how are you?).
Comment allez-vous is the formal version of 'How are you?' or 'How are things going?' If you want to say the same thing informally, you could use the phrase Ça va (how is it?). Sometimes, a bit confusingly, Ça va can also be used as an answer to 'How are things?', so, like in most languages, context is key!
Learn more useful French words and phrases with Kabinata.com – the best Bulgarian online platform for learning foreign languages!