French course

Lesson 1 of 240

Hello, how are you in French

Sam's first morning in Paris starts at Café des Tilleuls. Odile says hello before the door is even shut, and she waits.

A polite yak is already at the next table, croissant in reach.

By the end, you'll say hello in the day or evening, try a casual hi, and answer how you are.

Odile wants Bonjour first. Salut is for later, with friends.

By the end of this lesson

Greet someone and answer how you are.

  • Bonjour.Hello
  • Bonsoir.Good evening
  • Salut.Hi
  • Ça va ?How are you?
  • Ça va, merci.I'm good, thanks
  • Comment allez-vous ?How are you? (polite)

Scene — the door is open

Same first morning on rue des Tilleuls. Sam pushes the café door. Odile is already looking at him from the zinc counter.

The window table has its blank brass sign. Gaspard sits at the table next to it on two chairs, with a croissant and a café crème he has not touched.

A wide clear-morning café interior with Sam pushing the street door, Odile watching from the zinc, and Gaspard on two chairs beside a blank brass table sign, croissant and cup untouched.

Learn — hello and how are you

Six short lines cover hello, good evening, a casual hi, and two ways to ask how you are.

You'll also get a ready answer: I'm good, thanks.

  1. A medium doorway shot of Sam just inside the café, head forward, right hand lifted in a small open-palm greeting.

    Bonjour.

    Hello

    When to use it: Say this in a shop or café from morning until late afternoon.

    Learn it as one piece for the first word at the door.

    Say it: The on in Bonjour is a nasal sound.

  2. A close-up of Odile behind the zinc, chin dipped in a slower formal greeting, eyes toward the door.

    Bonsoir.

    Good evening

    When to use it: Say this instead of hello once it is evening.

    Learn it as one piece, the evening hello.

  3. A medium-wide side view of Gaspard by the window on two chairs, turned toward the door with a casual low wave, breakfast untouched.

    Salut.

    Hi

    When to use it: Say this to a friend, not at Odile's counter.

    Learn it as one piece and keep it for friends.

    Say it: The last t is silent.

  4. An over-the-shoulder view past Sam toward Odile leaning on the zinc with her head cocked and eyebrows raised in a warm check.

    Ça va ?

    How are you?

    When to use it: Ask this after hello with a friend or a regular.

    Learn it as one piece when you check in with someone.

  5. A tight close-up of Sam’s face as he offers a small closed-mouth smile, a tiny nod, and a hand at his chest.

    Ça va, merci.

    I'm good, thanks

    When to use it: Say this when someone asks how you are.

    Learn it as one piece to say you are fine.

  6. A slightly low medium shot of Sam standing straight before the zinc in a small formal bow, with Odile watching from behind the counter.

    Comment allez-vous ?

    How are you? (polite)

    When to use it: Ask this of a stranger, staff, or someone new.

    Learn it as one piece with new people and staff.

    Say it: The t in Comment links into allez.

Story — she waits

Watch Sam's first hello at the counter. Odile will not move on until she hears the right one.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. The lamps are still on. Odile looks up from the counter.
  2. OdileBonjour.Hello.
  3. She waits. Sam still has a hand on the door.
  4. SamBonsoir.Good evening.
  5. OdileBonjour.Hello.
  6. SamBonjour.Hello.
  7. OdileComment allez-vous ?How are you?
  8. SamÇa va, merci.I'm good, thanks.
  9. Odile turns to Gaspard at the next table. The window table stays empty.
  10. OdileÇa va ?How are you?
  11. GaspardÇa va, merci.I'm good, thanks.
  12. He looks at Sam. He does not sit at the window table.
  13. GaspardBonjour.Hello.
  14. SamSalut.Hi.
  15. GaspardBonjour. Comment allez-vous ?Hello. How are you?
  16. SamÇa va, merci.I'm good, thanks.

Practice — day or evening

Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    French

    Bonjour.Drop the English here
    Bonsoir.Drop the English here
    Salut.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its French, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    You walk into Café des Tilleuls in the morning. Odile looks at you and waits.

  4. Find the mistake

  5. Fill the gap

    I'm good, thanks

    Ça va, ____.

  6. What does it mean?

    Bonsoir.

  7. Swap the word

    Odile is new to you at the counter. Ask how she is, the polite way.

    ____ allez-vous ?

  8. What do you say?

    A close friend waves on the street in the afternoon.

  9. Build the line

    I'm good, thanks

    , .

    Tap the words in order.

  10. Fill the gap

    How are you?

    Ça ____ ?

  11. What do you say?

    You already said hi to a close friend. Ask how they are, the short way.

Say it — say it back

Now you're Sam on your first morning at the café. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. OdileBonjour.Hello.
  2. Sam (you)Say hello back. It is still morning.

    Bonjour.

    Hello

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
Bonjour.Hello
Bonsoir.Good evening
Salut.Hi
Ça va ?How are you?
Ça va, merci.I'm good, thanks
Comment allez-vous ?How are you? (polite)
Next: lesson 2Come in, sit down

Save your progress — it’s free

Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.

Want the next lesson in your inbox?

Get the next lesson by email, one a day.

Where should we start?
Join the newsletter

Daily lesson emails are coming soon. Newsletter subscribers get them first.

Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these hellos handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your hellos ready for the door.

Open Yak Cards