20 Essential Phrases for Meeting Someone for the First Time in French

How to greet someone for the first time in French? 
 

Greetings are the first step in any conversation, and in French, they are very important. They set the tone and show whether you want to be polite, formal, or friendly. Here are the basics:

Common greetings in French:
 

👉 « Bonjour » (Good morning/Hello):

This is the most versatile greeting in French. You can use it all day long, from morning until nightfall. It is polite and suits both formal and informal contexts.
 

👉 « Bonsoir » (Good evening):

When the sun sets, switch to bonsoir. It's perfect for evening events, dinners, or even to say good evening to your neighbor.
 

👉 « Rebonjour » / « Rebonsoir » (Hello again/Good evening again):

Use these expressions when greeting someone you've already seen earlier in the day. This avoids repeating bonjour.
 

👉 « Salut » (Hi):

This is a casual and friendly way to say hello. Use it with friends, family, or people you know well.
 

👉 « Coucou » (Hey):

Even more informal than salut, it is often used with close friends, family, and especially with children.

French gestures that accompany greetings:
 

In France, gestures play an important role in greetings:
 

• La poignée de main (The handshake):

  This is common in formal or professional settings, especially among men. A handshake is generally firm, but not too strong.
   

• La bise (The kiss on the cheek):

  In a more familiar setting, like among friends or family, you can do la bise. This involves lightly touching cheeks while making a kissing sound. The number of kisses depends on the region: two in Paris, sometimes three or even four elsewhere in France! If you're unsure, wait to see what the other person does.
   

• Un signe de la main (A wave):

  When you're far away or passing by quickly, you can wave while saying Coucou! or Salut! It's informal and perfect for a quick hello.

How to introduce yourself in French: Friendly vs. Formal:
 

After saying hello, the next step is to introduce yourself. Here's how to make a good impression, whether in a casual or formal setting:
 

Friendly introductions in French:

If you're meeting someone in an informal setting, like at a party or through mutual friends, you can say:

👉 « Salut, moi c’est [your name]. Et toi ? » (Hi, I’m [your name]. And you?)

For example: « Salut, moi c’est Emma. Et toi ? » (Hi, I’m Emma. And you?)
 

Formal introductions in French:

In more formal situations, like at work or with someone you don't know well, you can say:

👉 « Bonjour, je m’appelle [your name]. Et vous, comment vous appelez-vous ? » (Hello, my name is [your name]. And you, what’s your name?)
 

You can add a polite phrase:

👉 « Enchanté(e) de faire votre connaissance. » (Pleased to meet you.) or « Ravi(e) de faire votre connaissance. » (Delighted to meet you.)
 

Sharing your name in French:

If you want to be more casual, you can say:

👉 « Moi, c’est [your name]. » (I’m [your name].)
 

Or if you have a nickname, add:

👉 « On m’appelle [nickname] pour les intimes. » (They call me [nickname] among close friends.)
 

Essential questions to get to know someone in French:

After introducing yourself, it’s time to ask a few questions to break the ice and get to know the person better. Here are some key phrases:
 

Asking where someone is from in French:

👉 « D’où viens-tu ? » / « Tu viens d’où ? » (Where are you from?)

👉 « D’où venez-vous ? » (Where are you from? - formal)
 

You can answer:

👉 « Je viens de [city/country]. » (I’m from [city/country].)

For example: « Je viens de Londres. Et toi ? » (I’m from London. And you?)
 

Asking about someone’s job in French:

👉 « Tu fais quoi dans la vie ? » / « Tu travailles dans quoi ? » (What do you do for a living?)
 

👉 « Qu’est-ce que vous faites dans la vie ? » (What do you do for a living? - formal)
 

You can answer:

👉 « Je travaille comme [profession]. » (I work as [profession].)

👉 « Je bosse dans [sector]. » (I work in [sector] - informal)

For example:

« Je travaille dans le marketing. » (I work in marketing.)
 

Asking about hobbies in French:

👉 « Qu’est-ce que tu aimes faire dans la vie ? » (What do you like to do in life?)

👉 « Tu as des hobbies ? » / « Tu as des passe-temps ? » (Do you have any hobbies?)
 

Possible answers:

👉 « J’adore voyager. » (I love traveling.)

👉 « Je passe beaucoup de temps à lire. » (I spend a lot of time reading.)
 

Avoid common mistakes in French:
 

1️⃣ Saying « Je vais m’introduire » instead of « Je vais me présenter »

In English, we say « I’m going to introduce myself », but in French, « m’introduire » means something completely different (and sometimes embarrassing!). Always use « Je vais me présenter. »
 

2️⃣ Translating literally from English

• Saying « Je suis 30 » instead of « J’ai 30 ans. » (I am 30 years old.)
• Saying « Je suis bien » instead of « Je vais bien. » (I am well.)
   

3️⃣ Forgetting politeness rules

Using tu too quickly instead of vous. When in doubt, always start with vous.
 

4️⃣ Misusing expressions:

For example, don’t say « Je suis excité » to mean you’re excited: instead, say « J’ai hâte. » (I’m looking forward to it.)
 

And voilà! You’re now ready to meet someone for the first time in French, greet them properly, introduce yourself, and ask the right questions.
 

If you want to go further, read my article « 100 ESSENTIAL PHRASES in French for a FRENCH CONVERSATION ». You’ll learn natural expressions to make your French fluent and authentic—perfect for real conversations!