Are you studying French or living in a French-speaking country? You need to know the basic greetings using French. Here’s how to say “good afternoon” in French.
Speaking French
As with wherever else on the planet, there are different times of day to greet someone. In addition to Bonjour, which means good morning, and Bonne Nuit, which means good night, there is a common term for lunchtime.
A few hours after noon, the phrase “excellent lates” or “Bonsoir” is commonly used. There is no specific time, although 2 pm to 8/9 pm is a good generalization.
Don’t worry if you say it earlier or later than that—the French culture will respond graciously and understand what you mean. You’ll hear people using it as you spend more time in the country, letting you know that it’s now OK to start addressing people with Good Afternoon.
“Good afternoon” in French
Learning the fundamentals of French goodbyes and hellos is easier than you think. Despite some formal and informal variances, the standard French hellos and goodbyes come relatively quickly when you first start learning the language.
After all, you’re familiar with various French words, not only those relating to food. You’ve undoubtedly heard the phrases “Bonsoir,” “au revoiri,” and “très bien” hundreds of times. Simply say “Bonsoir” to someone this afternoon to greet them in French!
Do French say “Good afternoon”?
Unfortunately, it turns out that they rarely do. Nowadays, “Bonsoir” can almost always be heard or seen on the radio or television, and it is always done professionally. In the French language, greetings are Bonjour, Bonsoir, and bonne nuit however, when French-speaking people wish to properly greet friends, relatives, or neighbors, they will just say “bonjour” instead of “hi.”
Bon après-midi à tous et bon retour.
Good afternoon everyone, and welcome back.
People in French probably think of the day in terms of daylight (light) and evening (darkness) (dark). Après-midi is not required to characterize the day in some respects.
However, because it specifies the time of day for transmission, Bon après-midi may be used more frequently on television and radio. So, if you walk into a pâtisserie (a “patisserie”) at 2:00 p.m., you can say either Bon après-midi, Bonjour or Bonsoir.
Here is an example of how to use it:
Bonjour, deux beignets, s’il vous plaît !
Good afternoon. Two doughnuts, please!
Which one is your favorite French greeting?
Let’s start now that you know how to say good afternoon in French. Remember to look up the numerous greetings and the French equivalent of “Salut.”
FAQs on How to say “good afternoon” in French
What is the most common greeting in France?
A typical verbal greeting is “Bonjour” (which translates to “Hello”). If you wish to sound more formal, you can use “Bonjour” or “Bonsoir” (Good evening).
Is Bon après-midi used?
It’s less common to greet someone with “Bon après-midi,” which means “good afternoon” in French.
Does Frenchs say Bonjour in the afternoon?
Bonjour is the French term for “good afternoon,” yet greeting someone with a literal good afternoon is uncommon. As the afternoon progresses, “Bonjour” (good day) becomes more frequently replaced with “Bonsoir” (good evening), as the locals do.