French greetings: bonjour, salut and au revoir: what children learn
In the game, children build each greeting from letter tiles, choosing the right accents, as in à bientôt and ça va. The Quick quiz checks the meaning of common greetings and asks which one fits a situation, such as meeting a teacher or a neighbor in the evening. French words are marked in the page so screen readers switch to a French voice. Say each phrase aloud as you play: speaking is the best way to remember.
Suggested grade 2 practice, selected by skill and reading demand. US states and schools teach these topics in different grades; this is not a state-standards alignment claim. French and Spanish games are grouped by challenge level; learners can begin in any grade.
ACTFL World-Readiness Standards teaching connection: Vocabulary foundations for communication. Recognizing words and building short phrases can prepare a learner for reading and communication. Follow the game with a real exchange or a short text. Word recognition alone does not establish an ACTFL proficiency level or cover all communication modes. Read the framework.
How to play
Build the word from the tiles. Tap a tile to put it in the next gap, or type the letters. Watch out for the accents! Each game has 6 words and no timer. If a letter is wrong, the right ones stay and you get one more try. You get a point for each word built first time. For a quicker go, choose Quick quiz: 10 multiple-choice questions in 150 seconds (choose Relaxed for more time).
Step by step
- Learn the hello and goodbye pair. Bonjour (hello) and au revoir (goodbye). Use them every morning and evening at home.
- Add the friendly version. Salut is “hi” for friends and family. Bonjour is polite for everyone.
- Ask how someone is. Comment ça va? Answer ça va bien (I’m well) or ça va mal (I’m not well).
- Give your name. Je m’appelle… and ask comment tu t’appelles?
- Mind the time of day. Bonsoir in the evening; bonne nuit only at bedtime.
Worked examples
Example 1: What does à bientôt mean?
Working: Bientôt means soon. It is a friendly goodbye.
Answer: See you soon.
Example 2: Which greeting would you use with your teacher?
Working: Salut is for friends. With adults, use the polite greeting.
Answer: Bonjour.
Example 3: It is evening and you meet a neighbor. What do you say?
Working: Bonne nuit is for bedtime, so in the evening use the other one.
Answer: Bonsoir.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Saying bonne nuit for good evening. Bonne nuit is only for going to bed. For good evening, say bonsoir.
- Using salut with teachers. Salut is informal. Say bonjour, madame or bonjour, monsieur to adults.
- Pronouncing the j in bonjour like an English j. The French j is soft, like the s in “measure”. Listen to a native speaker.
Activities to try at home
- Greet each other in French at breakfast for a week.
- Make finger puppets that say bonjour and au revoir.
- Watch a short French cartoon and listen for greetings.
- Print the game sheet and practice saying each phrase aloud.
Ideas for the classroom
- Start each French lesson with a quick greetings circle.
- Role-play meeting people at different times of day.
- Sing a greetings song, then play the quiz.
- Pair students to hold a 4-line conversation: greeting, how are you, name, goodbye.
Free printable game and worksheet
The free printable starts with a game sheet, such as a color-by-answer picture, an answer maze or a secret-code joke, followed by a worksheet. Both use the same checked questions as the online game, and the answers are on the last page. Print it, or save it as a PDF from your browser’s print menu.
Open the free printable game and worksheet
Frequently asked questions
Does the game teach pronunciation?
The games are written, so they check spelling and meaning. Use audio from BBC Bitesize or your school scheme to practice saying the words.
Why does the game include please and thank you?
They are part of the polite phrases children use in conversation, alongside greetings.
Is French the only language?
The curriculum lets schools choose any language. We start with French, the most widely taught in English elementary schools.