How To Greet People in French: Why You Say Bonjour Monsieur

Greetings in French

When learning French, one of the first phrases you’ll encounter is Bonjour Monsieur — “Hello Sir.” But why do the French use titles like Monsieur, Madame, or Mademoiselle so often when greeting someone? Let’s break it down.

Formality Matters in French Culture

French society places a strong emphasis on politeness and formality, especially in initial interactions. Using titles like Monsieur (Sir), Madame (Ma’am), or Mademoiselle (Miss) shows respect and acknowledges the other person’s social standing or age.

• Bonjour Monsieur = Hello Sir
• Bonjour Madame = Hello Ma’am
• Bonjour Mademoiselle = Hello Miss (less common today)

In English, you might simply say “Hello” or “Hi” without a title, but in French, omitting the title can feel too casual or even rude in certain settings.

Bonjour… Hello… Bonsoir… Good evening Au revoir… Goodbye…

Madame. Madam. Monsieur. Sir.

Bonjour! is used during the daytime until around early evening, after which you switch to Bonsoir, ‘good evening.’ Bonjour! can be used in both formal and informal settings, while Salut! is generally only used amongst close friends and family.

Enchanté(e)

When you write the expression ‘pleased to meet you’ from the perspective of a male speaker, you would write enchanté. From the perspective of a female speaker, we write enchantée. However, there is no difference in pronunciation, so we only see this difference when it is written down.

When Should You Use Titles?

Use titles when:

• Greeting someone you don’t know well
• Speaking to someone older than you
• Interacting in professional or formal settings (shops, offices, restaurants)

Once you’re on familiar terms, you can drop the title and just say Bonjour or even Salut (Hi) with friends.

Quick Tip for Learners

Think of it like wearing a tie to a job interview — it’s not always required, but it shows you care about making a good impression. Saying Bonjour Monsieur is your linguistic necktie.

Try It Out

Question 1 How would you formally greet a woman during the morning? Reveal answer Bonjour Madame!

Question 2 How would you formally greet a man in the evening? Reveal answer Bonsoir Monsieur!

Question 3 How might you say hi to a friend? Reveal answer Salut!

Video: The Importance of Bonjour in French

Here’s a little more information about the importance of French greetings in French culture! This link will open a new window in YouTube.
Bonjour: Why Saying ‘Hello’ Is So Important in France – YouTube

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