bonjour
Meaning
hello (formal/informal greeting)
Usage and formality
bonjour is a versatile greeting used throughout the day in French. It can be used in both formal and informal situations, making it a safe choice for most interactions. It's the standard greeting when entering a shop, restaurant, or any public place, and also when meeting someone for the first time or greeting friends.
Pronunciation
The pronunciation is roughly bon zhoor. Note the nasal vowel in 'bon' and the 'j' sound, which is similar to the 's' in 'measure'. The final 'r' is pronounced.
Grammar
This is a fixed expression and does not change based on grammatical context.
Watch out
While bonjour can be used both formally and informally, using it in very casual settings with close friends might sound slightly too formal. In such cases, 'salut' (hi/bye) is more common. However, 'bonjour' is never incorrect.
Notes
bonjour: hello (formal/informal greeting)