Beyond 'Bonjour': Essential French Phrases and Greetings for Newcomers to Canada
Author:
Berlitz
TL;DR: To say hello in French Canadian, use "Bonjour" (bon-ZHOOR) in any situation, at any time of day. With friends, Quebecers say "Allô" (ah-LOH) or "Salut" (sah-LU), and in Montreal shops you will often hear the bilingual "Bonjour-Hi." Follow up with "Ça va?" (informal) or "Comment allez-vous?" (formal), and default to vous until someone invites you to use tu.
Moving to Canada and navigating French from day one can feel daunting—but it does not have to be. Whether you are settling in Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa, or a francophone community in New Brunswick, a core set of French phrases will make your daily interactions smoother, warmer, and far less stressful.
This guide skips the textbook. It gives you the phrases that actually matter—organised by real-life situation—so you can start using them immediately.
Table of Contents
- How to Say Hello in French Canadian: Greetings for Every Situation
- Everyday Essentials: French Phrases for Daily Life
- At Work and School: Professional and Academic French
- Quebec French vs. Standard French: What New Canadians Need to Know
- Your Next Step: From Survival Phrases to Real Fluency
- Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions
How to Say Hello in French Canadian: Greetings for Every Situation
Greetings set the tone for every interaction. In francophone Canada, the register you choose—formal or informal—signals respect and social awareness. Here is how to say hello in French Canadian, and when to use each greeting.
Hello in French Canadian: The 6 Greetings You Will Hear Most
| Greeting | Pronunciation | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonjour | bon-ZHOOR | Hello / Good day | Anytime, with anyone—the safe default in shops, offices and services |
| Allô | ah-LOH | Hi | Very common in Quebec with friends, family and colleagues—not only on the phone |
| Salut | sah-LU | Hi / Hey (also "bye") | Friends and people your age; too casual for a first meeting with a manager |
| Bonsoir | bon-SWAHR | Good evening | From late afternoon or evening onwards, especially in formal settings |
| Bon matin | bon mah-TAN | Good morning | Friendly morning greeting heard in Quebec; "Bonjour" works just as well |
| Bonjour-Hi | bon-ZHOOR-hi | Hello (bilingual) | Montreal shops and restaurants—reply in the language you prefer |
Asking "How Are You?" in French Canadian
| Situation | French Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | Comment allez-vous? | How are you? |
| Informal | Ça va? / Comment ça va? | How's it going? |
| Informal (Quebec) | Ça va bien? / Comment tu vas? | Are you doing well? / How are you doing? |
| Casual, friends | Quoi de neuf? | What's new? |
| Response | Ça va bien, merci. Et toi? / Et vous? | I'm doing well, thank you. And you? |
Saying Goodbye in French Canadian
- Au revoir — Goodbye (neutral, works everywhere)
- Bonne journée / Bonne soirée — Have a good day / evening (what cashiers and colleagues say most)
- Bonne fin de semaine — Have a good weekend (Canadian French; in France: "bon week-end")
- À la prochaine / À tantôt — See you next time / See you later (à tantôt is typically Québécois)
- Bye / Bye-bye — Widely used in everyday Quebec French
Good to know: in Quebec, you may hear "Bonjour!" when leaving a shop. Here it means "have a good day," not hello.
Critical tip — Tu vs. Vous: Use vous with strangers, employers, and anyone older than you. Switch to tu only when invited. Quebecers move to tu faster than people in France, so do not be surprised if a colleague suggests it on day one—but let them make the first move.
Everyday Essentials: French Phrases for Daily Life
These phrases cover the situations you will face every week — from grocery shopping to asking for directions.
Getting Help
- Excusez-moi. — Excuse me.
- Pouvez-vous m'aider? — Can you help me?
- Je ne comprends pas. — I don't understand.
- Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît? — Can you repeat that, please?
- Parlez-vous anglais? — Do you speak English?
Shopping and Services
- C'est combien? — How much is it?
- Je voudrais... — I would like...
- Avez-vous...? — Do you have...?
- L'addition, s'il vous plaît. — The bill, please.
- Carte ou comptant? — Card or cash? (you will hear this constantly)
Getting Around
- Où est...? — Where is...?
- À quelle heure part le prochain autobus? — What time does the next bus leave?
- Je cherche... — I am looking for...
- Tournez à gauche / à droite. — Turn left / right.
At Work and School: Professional and Academic French
Navigating a francophone workplace or school system requires a slightly more formal register. These phrases will help you make a strong first impression.
In the Workplace
- Bonjour, je m'appelle... Je suis le nouveau / la nouvelle... — Hello, my name is... I'm the new...
- Enchanté(e) de faire votre connaissance. — Pleased to meet you.
- Je suis disponible pour une réunion. — I am available for a meeting.
- Pourriez-vous clarifier, s'il vous plaît? — Could you clarify, please?
- Je ferai un suivi sous peu. — I will follow up shortly.
At work, greet colleagues with a simple "Bonjour" and a handshake at a first meeting. Among friends in Quebec, a light kiss on each cheek (la bise) is common, but it is rarely expected in professional settings.
At School or With Administration
- Je voudrais prendre rendez-vous. — I would like to make an appointment.
- Quels documents dois-je fournir? — What documents do I need to provide?
- Mon enfant est inscrit(e) en... — My child is enrolled in...
Quebec French vs. Standard French: What New Canadians Need to Know
If you learned French from a European textbook or app, Quebec French will surprise you. The differences are significant enough to cause real confusion — here is what to watch for.
| Standard French | Quebec French | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bonjour / Salut | Bonjour / Allô | Hello / Hi |
| la voiture | le char | the car |
| faire du shopping | magasiner | to go shopping |
| le week-end | la fin de semaine | the weekend |
| le petit-déjeuner | le déjeuner | breakfast |
| le déjeuner | le dîner | lunch |
| le dîner | le souper | dinner |
| un e-mail / un mail | un courriel | an email |
| une supérette / une épicerie | un dépanneur | a convenience store |
| c'est sympa | c'est le fun | it's fun / it's nice |
Pronunciation also differs markedly. Quebec French features distinct vowel sounds, faster speech patterns, and dropped syllables that can make even intermediate learners feel like beginners again. Immersive practice with a native-fluent instructor is the fastest way to close this gap.
Your Next Step: From Survival Phrases to Real Fluency
These phrases are your starting point — not your destination. Real integration into Canadian francophone life requires the ability to hold conversations, navigate complex situations, and communicate with confidence across registers.
Berlitz French programmes are designed specifically for adults who need to move fast. Two formats are particularly effective for new Canadians:
- Beginner French classes: Structured immersion from zero — building everyday communication skills through real conversation, not grammar drills.
- Intensive French programmes: For newcomers who need rapid results — up to 45 hours per week of immersive instruction with native-fluent instructors.
The Berlitz Method places you in conversation from your very first lesson. No translation, no memorisation drills — just the real, practical French you need to thrive in Canada.
Key Takeaways
- "Bonjour" always works: It is the safe way to say hello in French Canadian, at any time and with anyone. Use "Allô" or "Salut" with friends.
- Register matters: Default to vous in formal and unfamiliar situations and switch to tu only when invited.
- Quebec French is distinct: Vocabulary (fin de semaine, dépanneur, courriel), pronunciation and greetings differ from European French.
- Survival phrases are a starting point: They will get you through your first weeks—structured immersion is the fastest path to fluency and full integration.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say hello in French Canadian?
The standard way to say hello in French Canadian is "Bonjour," which works in any situation and at any time of day. Informally, Quebecers say "Allô" or "Salut." In Montreal, many businesses greet customers with the bilingual "Bonjour-Hi."
Do Quebecers say "Allô" only on the phone?
No. In Quebec, "Allô" is an everyday informal greeting used in person with friends, family and colleagues. In France, it is mostly reserved for answering the phone.
Is "Salut" rude in Quebec?
No, but it is informal. Use "Salut" with friends and people you already know, and "Bonjour" with strangers, clients, employers and anyone older than you.
Do I need to learn French to live in Canada?
It depends on where you settle. French is essential for daily life in Quebec and very useful in francophone communities across New Brunswick, Ontario and Manitoba. Even outside Quebec, French proficiency significantly expands your career and social opportunities across Canada.
Is Quebec French very different from the French taught in schools?
Yes. Vocabulary, pronunciation, and expressions differ from European French. Immersive programmes with Canadian French instructors are the most effective way to adapt quickly to the local linguistic reality.
How fast can a newcomer become conversational in French with Berlitz?
With intensive immersion, most learners achieve basic conversational ability within 8–12 weeks. The Berlitz Method prioritises speaking from lesson one, which builds real-world confidence faster than traditional approaches.
Can I take French classes online if I don't live near a Berlitz centre?
Yes. Berlitz offers fully online French programmes with live, native-fluent instructors — giving new Canadians across the country access to the same immersive quality regardless of location.
