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In English it is polite to ask
after a greeting. The answer of course is always something like
Complaints about personal mischiefs are considered inappropriate. What are corresponding modern French salutations in
What answer is expected on such a question? |
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In french, the words that come with the greeting are as important as the greeting itself. A same expression can therefore be used in different context, but preceeded or followed by different words: Most formal version (hierarchical or commercial context):
"Normally polite" version:
Less formal version (suitable for co-workers as an example, or well-established commercial relationships):
Friendly version:
Colloquial/slang:
Etc... you can be creative. And this evolves every day. I actually don't know what they say in high-schools at the time being.
Any of the above (Ça roule !, la pêche, etc), or also:
Etc... you can be creative as well. And it evolves the same way as the questions. |
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Here are my suggestions. They are likely to vary greatly among generations, social classes, regions and countries. Formal How are you?
What's up? I can't really think of a polite, formal way to ask what's up... I would consider it quite impolite in French to ask this question to someone who is not close. You might however say something like:
Thanks, I'm fine
or
Not much
Example of a formal exchange
Informal/friends How are you?
or
What's up?
(literally, "What's new?") Thanks, I'm fine
Not much
Example of an informal exchange
Amonst young (and cool) people How are you?
(cf. le film "Brice de Nice") What's up?
(Yep, this is English) Thanks, I'm fine
(as an answer to "ça roule ?"). Example of an exchange between young people
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“Comment allez-vous ?” is fine in most settings. It can be answered either by “Comment allez-vous ?” (most neutral position), by “Bien, et vous ?” or any *“XXX, et vous ?” where XXX is short. If you use tu to refer to the other person, then it is “Comment vas-tu ?”. In a more informal settings, you would go towards “Comment ça va ?” (same rules for answering back in kind). There are tons more ways of greating people, but that's the basics. As in English, the general rule is: this is not actually an invitation to talk at length. |
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Other answers provides already good example. So just to add some little possibilities when you are with friends (use it when you would use 'sup?' in English):
Some will used some strange variations like film references:
Or also other language variations :
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Question : Formal : Comment allez vous ? Positive answers : Très bien, merci. Et vous ? Negative answers :
Très bien, merci. Et vous ? These lists are not exhaustive, and the formal negative answer is the same one than the positive answer. That's on purpose, yes. |
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