Meeting a person
๐ฏ Greet someone, say who you are, and part politely โ the first ninety seconds of every friendship.
๐ฃ๏ธ Say these out loud
- Bonjour ๐ bon-ZHOOR Hello (literally: good day) Used from morning until about six in the evening, to absolutely everyone โ shopkeeper, teacher, stranger in a lift. Not saying it is considered rude.
- Bonsoir ๐ bon-SWAHR Good evening Takes over from bonjour once the evening begins.
- Je m'appelle Anil. ๐ zhuh ma-PELL a-NEEL My name is Anil. Literally 'I call myself Anil' โ the French say it the way Hindi says เคฎเฅเค เค เคชเคจเฅ เคเคช เคเฅ เคเคนเคคเคพ เคนเฅเค.
- Et toi ? ๐ ay TWAH And you? To a friend or someone your age. To a teacher or an elder, say 'Et vous ?' (ay VOO).
- Enchantรฉ. ๐ on-shon-TAY Delighted to meet you. A girl or woman writes enchantรฉe โ one more e, the same sound.
- Au revoir. ๐ oh ruh-VWAHR Goodbye (until we see each other again). ร bientรดt (ah byan-TOH) is warmer: 'see you soon'.
Read every line aloud twice before moving on. The mouth learns a language, not the eye.
๐ You already met the biggest rule in French
Twice now you have chosen between toi and vous. French has two words for 'you': one for a friend, one for respect and for strangers. Getting this right matters more than any verb tense โ it is the difference between friendly and rude.
- Et toi ? โ to a classmate
- Et vous ? โ to a teacher, a shopkeeper, anyone older
- When you are unsure, always use vous. Nobody is ever offended by respect.
๐ Among the people
In France a greeting is not optional. Walk into a small shop without saying bonjour and you will be served coolly; say it and the whole conversation changes. It is the single most useful word in this course.
๐ Practise today
- Greet five things in your house out loud tomorrow morning: bonjour la fenรชtre, bonjour la table. Silly practice is still practice.
- Introduce yourself to a mirror: Bonjour, je m'appelle ___. Et toi ?
- Decide for each person โ toi or vous: your best friend, your mother, a bus conductor, your class teacher.
