French word

bonjour

Pronunciation

IPA/bɔ̃ʒuʁ/

Meaning

  • interjectionhello

Example

Je dis bonjour à mon voisin.

I say hello to my neighbor.

Illustration for bonjour (hello)

More examples

Elle m'a dit bonjour ce matin.

She said hello to me this morning.

Core concept

A polite daytime greeting that opens an encounter.

Common phrases

  • bonjour monsieur

    Hello, sir

  • bonjour madame

    Hello, ma'am

  • bonjour tout le monde

    Hello, everyone

Similar words

salut: A brief, casual greeting used with friends and close acquaintances.
bonsoir: A greeting used when meeting someone in the evening or at night.

Definition in French

S'emploie pour saluer poliment quelqu'un en arrivant ou en croisant quelqu'un dans la journée.

Word origin

Bonjour combines the French adjectives bon, meaning good, and jour, meaning day, and developed as a greeting wishing someone a good day.

Usage tips

  • Bonjour is the usual neutral greeting in shops, workplaces, and other public settings, while salut is more informal.

Other meanings

  • good morninginterjection
  • greetingnoun

Opposites

  • au revoirgoodbyeinterjection

Word lists with this word