Bonjour.

hello

Questions & Answers about Bonjour.

How do you pronounce Bonjour?

Pronounce Bonjour as bohn-zhoor. The on part is nasal (like aw in English but through the nose), and the j sounds like the s in vision.

When should I use Bonjour as opposed to Bonsoir?

Use Bonjour in the morning and well into the afternoon. Around late afternoon or evening, switch to Bonsoir to say “Good evening.”

Is Bonjour formal or informal?

Bonjour is generally polite and can be used in almost any situation, whether it’s in a store, with neighbors, or even in more formal settings. For very casual greetings among friends, Salut is often used instead.

Why isn’t the 'n' pronounced as in English?

In French, on is a nasal vowel. The n merges into the vowel, so you don’t hear a strong “n” sound like you would in English. Instead, air flows through the nose to give that nasal quality.

Do any other letters change sound in Bonjour?

The final r is not silent—it has a soft, throaty sound typical of French. It’s less pronounced than an English r but still present at the end of Bonjour.