French words for kids · Greetings & manners
How to say “hello” in French
Hello is usually the very first word a child uses in a new language, and the one they get to use most: with family, at the door, on a video call.
Hello in French
bonjour
Sounds like ≈ boh(n)-ZHOOR
Good to know: Bonjour is the all-purpose hello, and the polite one to use with adults. Salut (sa-LU) is the casual "hi" between friends and kids, and it also means "bye".
Hear it in a song
Real lines from our French songs, with the English meaning shown in the app:
Arbre, arbre, bonjour!
Tree, tree, hello!
from Bonjour, la Nature (Hello, Nature)
Bonjour, amis !
Hello, friends!
from Au Revoir, Amis (Goodbye, Friends)
Bonjour! Au revoir!
Hello! Goodbye!
from Maman et Papa (Mom and Dad)
2 songs that teach it
“Hello” is one of the key words in these songs. Every line is shown in French with its English meaning.
Also sung in: Bonjour, Au Revoir, Amis, Dix Petits Oiseaux, À la ferme, Animaux de la jungle, Ma famille, Maman et Papa, Mamie et Papi and 16 more.
Practice ideas for parents
- 1Make bonjour the only way anyone says hello in your house for a week, including to the cat and to teddies.
- 2Wave at things on a walk (a bus, a dog, a tree) and say bonjour to each one. Silly targets get the most giggles and the most repeats.
- 3When a video call starts, let your child be the one who opens with bonjour.
Related French words
“Hello” in other languages
Sing it in French, free
The first unit, 6 greeting songs with lyrics and English translation, is free forever. No card needed. Premium unlocks all 134 songs.
About the pronunciation: the “sounds like” spellings are rough English approximations for parents (capital letters show the stressed syllable). Frenchhas sounds English doesn't, so treat them as a starting point and let the songs be the model. Songs are original and produced with AI music tools. Ideas for using French songs with your family.