La Bise and French Greeting Etiquette in Canada and France
Greetings follow the place and the relationship, not one rule. At work, in interviews, offices and first meetings: Bonjour, a handshake and vous. With friends and family in Québec: la bise (two cheeks), Salut or Allô, and tu. In a shop, start with Bonjour. If you would rather not do la bise, offer your hand with a smile.
Bonne nuit is only for bedtime. In Québec the answer to merci is often Bienvenue; in France it is De rien. Bonjour is safe all day, Bonsoir from the evening. When in doubt, let the other person lead.
Getting Started
In the first weeks in Canada one question keeps coming up: how do people here actually greet each other? A handshake, a hug, or the French cheek-kiss, la bise? In Punjabi culture the greeting changes with the relationship and with age: Sat Sri Akal, folded hands, touching an elder’s feet, a hug. The French-speaking world works the same way: the right greeting depends on the place and the relationship.
This lesson explains what is normal in Québec and the rest of Canada, what is different in France, and which words go with each situation.
Note: these are general patterns, not rules. People vary by family, age and region. When in doubt, let the other person lead.
1. What is la bise?
Faire la bise means touching cheeks when you meet or leave someone, with a light kissing sound in the air. Your lips do not touch the cheek: it is a greeting, not a kiss.
- How many? In Québec, usually two (one cheek, then the other). In France it varies by region from one to four; two in Paris.
- With whom? Friends, family, friends of friends. In Québec it is mostly between women, or between a woman and a man; two men usually shake hands or hug.
- Where not? Interviews, offices, government services, doctors, customers. Shake hands there.
If you’d rather not: religious, cultural and personal reasons are all fine. Smile and offer your hand, or say: Je préfère ne pas faire la bise, mais enchanté ! Since 2020 many people do it less themselves.
2. Words for meeting
| French | English | Example | Example (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| bonjour | hello, good morning | Bonjour, madame ! | Hello, madam! |
| bonsoir | good evening | Bonsoir, tout le monde. | Good evening, everyone. |
| salut | hi; bye | Salut, ça va ? | Hi, how are you? |
| allô | hi (Québec); hello on the phone | Allô, c’est Simran ! | Hi, it’s Simran! |
| enchanté / enchantée | nice to meet you | Enchantée, je m’appelle Priya. | Nice to meet you, I’m Priya. |
| faire la bise | to greet with cheek kisses | On se fait la bise ? | Shall we do la bise? |
| serrer la main | to shake hands | Il m’a serré la main. | He shook my hand. |
| la poignée de main | handshake | Une poignée de main ferme. | A firm handshake. |
| un câlin | hug | Viens, un gros câlin ! | Come here, a big hug! |
Note: a man writes enchanté, a woman enchantée. They sound the same.
3. What is specific to Québec
“Bonjour-Hi”. In Montréal shops you will often hear this bilingual greeting. It means: which language would you like? If you want to practise French, answer Bonjour ! and the conversation will continue in French.
Allô. In France allô is only for the phone. In Québec people also say Allô ! when they meet, like “hi”.
Bienvenue = you’re welcome. In Québec the answer to merci is often Bienvenue ! In France you would hear De rien or the formal Je vous en prie.
Bon matin. In Québec you will also hear Bon matin ! in the morning. It is not used in France, and in a formal setting Bonjour is always safest.
Tu comes quickly. Québécois switch to tu much sooner than people in France. The full rule is in Subject Pronouns and Tu vs Vous.
4. In France: Bonjour is compulsory in shops
In France, saying Bonjour as you walk into a shop, a bakery, a clinic or even a lift is expected, and Merci, au revoir or Bonne journée as you leave. Asking a question without a Bonjour first comes across as rude. The rule is looser in Canada, but starting with Bonjour always goes down well there too.
5. Words for leaving
| French | English | Example | Example (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| au revoir | goodbye | Au revoir et merci ! | Goodbye and thank you! |
| bonne journée | have a good day | Merci, bonne journée ! | Thanks, have a good day! |
| bonne soirée | have a good evening | Bonne soirée à vous ! | Have a good evening! |
| à bientôt | see you soon | À bientôt, j’espère ! | See you soon, I hope! |
| à la prochaine | until next time | Merci, à la prochaine ! | Thanks, until next time! |
| bienvenue | you’re welcome (Québec) | — Merci ! — Bienvenue ! | — Thanks! — You’re welcome! |
Note: Bonne nuit (good night) is only for bedtime. Leaving a shop in the evening, say Bonne soirée.
6. Which greeting where
| Place | Canada (Québec) | France |
|---|---|---|
| Job interview, office | Handshake + Bonjour, vous | Handshake + Bonjour Madame/Monsieur, vous |
| Co-workers | Handshake or just Salut; often tu | Handshake; in some offices la bise with close colleagues |
| Shop | Bonjour (or Bonjour-Hi) | Bonjour is compulsory; Bonne journée when leaving |
| Friends, family | La bise (2), a hug, or Allô ! | La bise (1–4 depending on region) |
| Friends of friends | Often la bise | Often la bise |
7. Where the Simple Rules Break
| Situation | What happens | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bonjour or bonsoir | bonjour all day, bonsoir from the evening (when it gets dark) | Bonsoir, tout le monde ! |
| Bonne nuit | only at bedtime; leaving a shop in the evening is bonne soirée | Merci, bonne soirée ! |
| Salut | both “hi” and “bye”, but only with people you say tu to | Salut, ça va ? / Salut, à demain ! |
| Allô | on the phone everywhere; also “hi” in Québec | Allô, c’est Simran ! |
| Enchanté | the final e is written for a woman, not heard | Enchantée, je m’appelle Priya. |
| Not wanting la bise | smile and offer your hand | Je préfère ne pas faire la bise, mais enchanté ! |
A bridge from Punjabi and Hindi: ਸਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਜੀ / नमस्ते जी is the formal Bonjour, madame / monsieur with vous, and ਕੀ ਹਾਲ ਹੈ / क्या हाल है is the friendly Salut, ça va ? with tu. French has no equivalent of touching an elder’s feet, and a smile with a handshake is the safe choice at work.
Practice
What do you do and say in each situation?
- You reach the counter at a Service Canada office.
- In Québec, a friend introduces you to her sister, who leans in with her cheek.
- In Montréal, someone thanks you: Merci beaucoup !
- You leave a Paris bakery at 7 p.m.
Possible answers
- Bonjour ! and vous; no handshake needed, just a smile.
- Do la bise (twice) and say Enchanté(e) ! If you’d rather not, offer your hand.
- Bienvenue ! (or De rien !)
- Merci, bonne soirée !
Practice B. Which word? Write the missing word
- (Paris bakery, 10 a.m.) ______, madame !
- (leaving a shop at 7 p.m.) Merci, bonne ______ !
- (Québec: someone says merci) ______ !
- (France: someone says merci) ______ !
- (going to bed) Bonne ______ !
- (arriving at a dinner, 8 p.m.) ______, tout le monde !
- (a woman meets someone) Enchanté______.
- (see you soon) À ______ !
Show answers
- Bonjour · 2. soirée · 3. Bienvenue · 4. De rien / Je vous en prie · 5. nuit · 6. Bonsoir · 7. e · 8. bientôt
Your Turn
Task (TEF/TCF Expression Orale, Section A): it is your first day at a new job in Montréal. Greet your manager (vous), greet a friendly colleague (tu), say what you answer when someone thanks you, and say goodbye at 5 p.m. Speak for 40–60 words.
Show a model answer
— Bonjour, madame ! Je suis Simran, enchantée. — (to a colleague) Salut Marc, ça va ? Merci pour ton aide ! — Bienvenue ! (Marc’s answer) — (at 5 p.m.) Merci, bonne soirée, à demain !
What to check: Bonjour and vous with the manager, Salut and tu with a colleague, Enchantée with a final e for a woman, Bienvenue as the Québec answer to merci, and bonne soirée, not bonne nuit.
What’s Next
FAQ
Do you have to faire la bise with everyone in Canada?
No. In Québec la bise is for friends and family, not work or offices. At work, in interviews and in government offices, a handshake is normal. In English Canada la bise is rare.
What if I don't want to faire la bise for religious or personal reasons?
That is completely fine. Smile, say Bonjour and offer your hand, or say so politely. Since 2020 many French speakers do it less themselves, so nobody will take offence.
Does 'Bienvenue' in Québec only mean 'welcome'?
No. In Québec people often answer merci with Bienvenue, meaning 'you're welcome'. In France you would hear De rien or Je vous en prie instead.
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