Greetings and goodbyes

In one line

Bonjour until around six in the evening, Bonsoir after that — and Bonne nuit only when somebody is going to bed.

Phrases

Greeting

Asking how someone is

Replying

Saying goodbye

À tout à l'heure means "I'll see you again today". If you will not see them the same day, say À bientôt.

Two things English does not map onto.

1. "Good night" is a farewell in English and not in French. You can say "good night" to somebody leaving a party at ten; Bonne nuit would mean you are sending them to bed. Use Bonne soirée.

2. Bon courage and Bonne continuation have no English equivalent. They are said to somebody who still has work ahead of them — a colleague staying late, a student before an exam. "Good luck" is close but implies chance; Bon courage implies effort. Both are extremely common and using them sounds distinctly French.

Kiss or handshake — the social rule

The number of kisses varies by region — two in Paris, three or four elsewhere. If you are unsure, wait and let the other person start.

And in Quebec la bise is less common — a handshake is more usual.

Greetings in specific situations

The shop rule is the one that matters most and it surprises English speakers. In Britain or North America you can walk into a shop and go straight to what you need. In France you say Bonjour to the shopkeeper first, before anything else. Not doing so is not neutral — it reads as rude, and the service you get will reflect it. The same applies on leaving: Au revoir, bonne journée.

And the waiting-room Bonjour — greeting a room full of strangers — is normal French behaviour and would be eccentric in English.

Traps

Ça va ? — a question that is not a question