You wake up in a small, slightly drafty room in the 11th arrondissement. The smell of burnt espresso and toasted flour drifts up from the street. You head downstairs, ready to seize the day, walk into the boulangerie, and... you freeze. Is it just "bonjour"? Is that too formal? Too short? Do you need to add "monsieur" or "madame"?
Saying good morning in French isn't just about the words. It's about the rhythm of the day.
Most people think bonjour is a catch-all. It's not. Well, it is, but if you want to actually sound like you belong there, you need to understand the social contract of the French morning. If you mess it up, you aren't just a foreigner; you’re someone who didn't acknowledge the humanity of the person behind the counter. That sounds dramatic. It’s actually just how it works.
The Absolute Power of Bonjour
If you learn nothing else, learn this: Bonjour is the gatekeeper. In France, you don't ask for a coffee without saying it first. You don't ask for directions without it. Honestly, you don't even breathe the same air as someone else in a small shop without a polite bonjour.
It’s the literal translation of "good day," but it functions as the primary way to say good morning in French.
But here is the trick. A lone bonjour can sometimes feel a bit clipped, almost dismissive. If you’re at a hotel or a nice café, you’ll hear Bonjour, monsieur or Bonjour, madame. It adds a layer of "I see you." It’s a respect thing. You'll notice the French aren't big on "How are you?" as a greeting like Americans are. They don't do the "Hey, how’s it going?" thing with strangers. They do the bonjour. It’s a complete transaction in itself.
Why You Shouldn't Use Bon Matin
Here’s where a lot of people trip up. They think, "Okay, bon means good, and matin means morning, so bon matin must be it."
Nope.
Don't do it. If you say bon matin in the middle of Paris, people will know exactly what you’re trying to do, but it sounds incredibly "Anglicized." It’s what we call a calque—a literal word-for-word translation that doesn’t actually exist in the native ear. The only place you might hear something similar is in parts of Quebec, but even there, it’s a bit of a debated point. In France, it’s a dead giveaway that you’re using Google Translate in your head.
Stick to bonjour. It’s safe. It’s classic. It works from the moment the sun comes up until the moment it starts to dip.
Getting Specific: The Early Bird Greetings
Sometimes bonjour feels a bit too broad. Maybe you're at a gym at 6:00 AM or you're greeting a roommate who just rolled out of bed.
Salut!
This is your "Hi." It’s casual. You don't say this to your boss unless you have that kind of relationship. You definitely don't say it to the baker. But to a friend? It’s perfect. It’s quick. Salut is weird because it also means "bye," so context is everything.👉 See also: Desi Bazar Desi Kitchen: Why Your Local Grocer is Actually the Best Place to Eat
Coucou!
This is even more informal. It’s basically "Hey there!" Usually used with kids, close friends, or family. If you say coucou to a waiter, they will think you are very strange or incredibly over-familiar.Tu as bien dormi?
This isn't a greeting, technically, but it’s the immediate follow-up. "Did you sleep well?" In a French household, this is the real way people acknowledge each other in the morning. It shows a level of intimacy that bonjour lacks.
The Timing of the Transition
When does "morning" end? In the US or UK, we might say "good morning" until noon. In France, bonjour stays the king until the late afternoon. You don't switch to bonsoir (good evening) until the sun starts to go down, usually around 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM.
There is no "good afternoon" in the sense of a greeting. There is bonne après-midi, but that is a way to say "have a good afternoon" when you are leaving. This is a huge distinction.
- Greeting: Bonjour!
- Parting: Bonne journée! (Have a good day!)
- Parting: Bonne après-midi! (Have a good afternoon!)
If you walk into a shop at 2:00 PM and say bonne après-midi, the shopkeeper will look at you confused because you’ve basically just said "Goodbye" before you even walked in.
The Regional Nuances
France isn't a monolith. Neither is the French-speaking world.
If you head down to the south, maybe near Marseille or Nice, the "r" in bonjour might get a little softer, or the vowels might stretch out. But the rules remain. If you cross the border into Switzerland or Belgium, you might encounter different numbering systems (septante instead of soixante-dix), but the morning greeting is the one constant.
In West Africa—places like Senegal or Ivory Coast—the French is often peppered with local flair. You might hear Bonjour, ça va? almost as a single word. The etiquette there is even more pronounced. Skipping the greeting is a major social faux pas. You acknowledge everyone.
Common Mistakes That Make Locals Cringe
It's okay to be a learner. People generally appreciate the effort. But if you want to avoid the "tourist glare," watch out for these:
Over-pronouncing the 'n'
The 'n' in bonjour is nasal. It shouldn't sound like "bon-jure" with a hard English 'n'. It’s more like you’re starting to say 'n' but you stop halfway and let the sound vibrate in your nose.
Forgetting the Gender
If you’re adding madame or monsieur, make sure you get it right. If you aren't sure, or if someone identifies outside the binary, a simple, polite bonjour with a nod is better than guessing wrong.
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The Volume Problem
Americans, in particular, tend to be loud. A French good morning is often low-key. It’s a shared acknowledgment, not a performance. You don't need to shout it across the room. A soft bonjour as you make eye contact is the gold standard.
Professional Mornings
If you’re in a business setting, the stakes are a bit higher. You’re not just being polite; you’re being professional.
In a French office, there is a ritual called la bise. Well, there was, and it’s slowly coming back post-pandemic, though many prefer a simple handshake or a nod now. But before any work starts, you go around. You say bonjour to individuals. You don't just walk to your desk and wave at the room.
It’s called le tour des bureaux. Even if there are twenty people, you acknowledge them. It feels inefficient to an outsider, but it’s the glue of the French workplace. Skipping it makes you look arrogant or cold.
Beyond the Basics: Making it Natural
If you want to level up, try adding a little flavor to your morning interactions.
Instead of just bonjour, you can use:
- Bonjour à tous (Good morning to everyone) - great for a group.
- Enfin le matin! (Finally morning!) - if you’re a coffee addict reaching for the pot.
- Réveil difficile? (Rough wake-up?) - if your friend looks like they got hit by a truck.
The French language loves a little bit of shared commiseration.
What About the "Good Morning" Text?
Texting is different. You aren't going to send a formal Bonjour, Monsieur to someone you’re dating or a close friend.
You’ll see Bjr.
Yes, the French love to shorten everything. Just like "LOL" or "BRB," Bjr is the shorthand for bonjour. It’s quick. It’s efficient. You might also see Slt for salut.
If you're sending a sweet morning message, you'd go with:
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- Coucou, bien réveillé(e) ? (Hey, awake yet?)
- Bon réveil ! (Have a good wake-up!)
These feel much more "human" than a stiff, formal greeting.
The Cultural Weight of the First Meal
You can’t talk about the morning without talking about the petit-déjeuner.
In France, breakfast is usually sweet, not savory. You're looking at tartines (bread with butter and jam), croissants, or pain au chocolat. If you're staying with a host family, your "good morning" will likely be followed by an offer of un café or un thé.
Accepting the drink is part of the greeting. It’s the transition from the private world of sleep to the public world of the day.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
Knowing the words is 20% of the battle. The rest is execution. Here is how you actually use this info:
- The 3-Second Rule: When you enter a building (shop, hotel, café), make eye contact within three seconds and say bonjour. Don't wait for them to speak first.
- The "Madame/Monsieur" Add-on: Use these titles. It feels formal to us, but it’s standard politeness there. It’s the difference between "Hey" and "Good morning, sir."
- Watch the "N": Practice the nasal vowel. Think of the word "no" but don't let your tongue touch the roof of your mouth at the end.
- Stop at Noon? No. Remember that bonjour is valid all day long. If the sun is up, bonjour is up.
- The Exit Matters: Never leave without a merci, bonne journée. It completes the cycle.
Learning to say good morning in French isn't about passing a vocabulary test. It’s about signaling that you understand the social fabric of the place you’re in. It’s a small effort that yields massive results in how people treat you.
Next time you’re in a French-speaking environment, pay attention to the locals. Notice the volume. Notice the head tilt. Mimic that. You’ll find that the "rude" reputation some cities have starts to melt away when you lead with the right kind of morning energy.
Start small. Tomorrow morning, even if you’re just at home, look in the mirror and give a solid, confident bonjour. Get the mouth shape right. Get the "j" sound—which is soft, like the 's' in "vision"—perfected. By the time you land at CDG or land in Brussels, it’ll be second nature.
To really nail the lifestyle, start pairing your greeting with the local customs. If you're in a café, stand at the bar (au comptoir) rather than sitting at a table. It's cheaper, and it's where the real bonjour action happens. You’ll hear a chorus of greetings as regulars come and go. Listen to the melody of it. French is a musical language, and the morning is its opening act.
Don't overthink it. Just say it. The worst thing you can do is stay silent. Silence in a French shop isn't neutral; it’s a choice. Choose to be part of the morning.
To keep your French journey moving, try focusing on your evening greetings next, as the transition from bonjour to bonsoir is the next most important social hurdle you'll face. Practicing the "bise" etiquette or learning how to order your morning coffee with the correct pronouns will further cement your status as a savvy traveler rather than a confused visitor.