French grammar
Bonjour, bonsoir, au revoir
Greet people and say goodbye.
From the scene Bonjour ! (Hello!)
In short
Say bonjour all day, bonsoir from about six in the evening, au revoir to leave. Add madame or monsieur.
Your turn
Which one goes with good evening?
Options: bonsoir, madame / monsieur · bonsoir · bonjour
Show answer
good evening → bonsoir
How it works
Bonjour works all day long — French has no separate "good afternoon".
Good to know
From about six in the evening, switch to bonsoir. Add madame or monsieur to sound polite: Bonsoir, madame.
hello / good day (until the evening) bonjour
Nuria
Bonjour ! Bonjour, monsieur.
Hello! Hello, sir.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) ! Bonjour, monsieur.
Options: Bonjour · Bonsoir · Au revoir
Show answer
Nuria
Bonjour ! Bonjour, monsieur.
Hello! Hello, sir.
good evening bonsoir
Ramón
Bonsoir.
Good evening.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank).
Options: Bonjour · Monsieur · Bonsoir
Show answer
Ramón
Bonsoir.
Good evening.
good evening, madam / sir bonsoir, madame / monsieur
Nuria
Bonsoir, madame.
Good evening, madam.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), madame.
Options: Bonsoir · Bonjour · Au revoir
Show answer
Nuria
Bonsoir, madame.
Good evening, madam.
goodbye au revoir
Ramón
Au revoir.
Goodbye.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank).
Options: Bonsoir · Au revoir · Bonjour
Show answer
Ramón
Au revoir.
Goodbye.
thank you merci
Nuria
Bonsoir. Merci.
Good evening. Thank you.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Bonsoir. (blank).
Options: Monsieur · Merci · Bonjour
Show answer
Nuria
Bonsoir. Merci.
Good evening. Thank you.
Watch out
Bonne nuit is only for going to bed, never a greeting.
Common mistake
Not Au revoir here. Nuria has just arrived.
Bonjour ! Bonjour, monsieur.
Hello! Hello, sir.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| hello / good day (until the evening) | bonjour |
|---|---|
| good evening | bonsoir |
| good evening, madam / sir | bonsoir, madame / monsieur |
| goodbye | au revoir |
| thank you | merci |
More lines from the story
- RamónAu revoir !Goodbye!