Global Greetings Slides
Unité 1: Les Salutations
La Francophonie Globale
Bonjour, World!
Discovering French greetings and introductions through the rich cultures of Senegal, Québec, and Martinique.
🇸🇳 Dakar
🇨🇦 Québec
🇲🇶 Fort-de-France
Slide 1 of 7
Les Bases Standard Greetings & Register
Le Vocabulaire Standard
01 Bonjour ! Hello / Good morning
02 Salut ! Hi / Bye (Casual)
03 Comment t'appelles-tu ? What is your name?
04 Je m'appelle... My name is...
The Big Choice: Tu vs. Vous
TU Informal
Used with friends, classmates, children, family, and pets.
"Salut ! Ça va ?"
VOUS Formal
Used with teachers, strangers, elders, and groups of people.
"Bonjour. Comment allez-vous ?"
Note: Always start with "Vous" unless invited to use "Tu"!
Slide 2 of 7
🇸🇳 Sénégal (L'Afrique de l'Ouest)
La Teranga Culture
Greetings Built on Respect & Community
In Senegal, greetings are a vital social ritual. You never just say "Bonjour" and walk away. Conversations begin with asking about family, health, and work!
Le Poignée de Main Respectueux
When greeting an elder, it is polite to hold your right wrist with your left hand during the handshake as a sign of respect.
La Teranga
The Wolof word for hospitality. Greetings are warm, prolonged, and prioritize welcoming others warmly into the community.
Vocabulaire Local
"Nanga def ?"
How are you? (Wolof greeting, widely used alongside French)
"Mangi fi."
I am here / I am doing fine. (Response to Nanga def)
"Salam Alaikum"
Peace be upon you. (Traditional Arabic greeting, widely used as Senegal is 95%+ Muslim)
Cultural Tip: Skipping a greeting is considered incredibly rude in West Africa.
Slide 3 of 7
🇨🇦 Québec (Le Canada)
Warm Greetings in Cold Climates
Le Lexique Québécois
"Allô !"
Hi / Hello! (In France, "Allô" is ONLY used on the phone. In Québec, it is a very common in-person greeting!)
"Bon matin !"
Good morning! (Literally translated from English. This is extremely common in Québec, but frowned upon in France.)
"Ça va bien ?"
How's it going? (Often delivered with a very warm, energetic lilt)
Friendly, Direct, & Energetic
Québécois greetings are known for being warm and open. There is an immediate friendliness that often surprises Europeans, blending French linguistic structures with North American social dynamics.
Rapid Familiarity
People in Québec shift to the casual "tu" much quicker than in France. In shops or restaurants, do not be surprised to be addressed with "tu" immediately!
Physical Boundaries
Unlike in Europe, "la bise" (kissing on cheeks) is rare among strangers or in professional settings. Handshakes or a simple friendly wave are standard.
Fun Fact: Québec French preserves some 17th-century words from France's founding settlers!
Slide 4 of 7
🇲🇶 Martinique (Les Antilles / Caraïbes)
Creole Harmonies
Warm Island Rhythms & Expressions
Martinique is a French territory in the Caribbean where French and Martinican Creole (Kréyol) live side-by-side. Greetings reflect a mixture of European politeness and relaxed Caribbean warmth.
Le "Check" et la Chaleur
Eye contact and a wide smile are standard greeting features. Among younger people, a light handshake accompanied by touching fists is common.
La Bise Multipliée
When friends or family meet, "la bise" is standard. Depending on where you are in Martinique, it can be two or even four kisses (starting on the left cheek)!
Kréyol & French Blends
"Sa ka fêt ?"
What's up? / How's it going? (The ultimate informal Creole greeting, heard everywhere)
"Tout bagay byen."
Everything's good / going well. (The optimistic reply to sa ka fêt)
"Bonjou" / "Bonswa"
Good morning / Good evening. (Pronounced with a beautiful nasal Creole accent)
Cultural Tip: Greetings are slower and more relaxed. Take your time when arriving!
Slide 5 of 7
Détective Culturel Realia Analysis
Interactive Check: Who Said What?
Look at the authentic messages and greetings below. Identify the region and context!
SCENARIO A 📱
Amélie:
"Allô Antoine ! Bon matin, ça va bien ?"
🔍 Clues:
Uses "Allô" in-person and the literal expression "Bon matin".
SCENARIO B 🏖️
Yannick:
"Sa ka fêt mon ami ! Tout bagay byen ?"
🔍 Clues:
Uses Creole terms of warmth and rhythmic, informal checks.
SCENARIO C 🤝
Fatou:
"Salam Alaikum, Monsieur Diop. Nanga def ? Comment va la famille ?"
🔍 Clues:
Combines traditional Arabic blessings with Wolof checks & inquiries about family.
Answers: A = Québec (Informal), B = Martinique (Informal), C = Senegal (Formal/Respectful)
Slide 6 of 7
Activité de Mingle Le Salon Francophone
Your Turn: Practice Global Greetings!
Let's put our skills to the test. Stand up, move around, and greet your classmates using one of our three cultural styles! Refer to your worksheet to complete your log sheet.
🇸🇳
Le Style Sénégalais
- Say "Salam Alaikum"
- Shake hands with respect
- Ask about the family
🇨🇦
Le Style Québécois
- Say "Allô !" or "Bon matin !"
- Use "tu" right away
- Friendly wave & high energy
🇲🇶
Le Style Martiniquais
- Say "Sa ka fêt ?"
- Smile and give a light handshake
- Say "Tout bagay byen !"
Mélangez-vous ! (Start mingling!)
Slide 7 of 7
Salutations Detective Worksheet
Nom : _____________________________
Date : __________________ Classe : ________
Détective des Salutations
Exploring Registers & Customary Greetings across La Francophonie
PARTIE 1 Le Bon Registre (Tu vs. Vous)
Circle the correct register (Tu or Vous), then complete the greeting appropriately.
1. Your French Teacher TU / VOUS
"Bonjour Madame ! Comment ____________________ ?"
2. A New Classmate TU / VOUS
"Salut ! ____________________ t'appelles-tu ?"
3. The School Principal TU / VOUS
"Bonjour Monsieur. Je ____________________ Antoine."
4. Your Best Friend TU / VOUS
"Salut Julie ! Ça ____________________ bien ?"
PARTIE 2 Realia Detective
Analyze the slides' cultural scenarios (A, B, C) to solve the mysteries below.
Scenario A (Québec, Canada)
Amélie greets Antoine with "Allô" and "Bon matin". How are these terms distinct from standard French in France?
Scenario B (Martinique, Antilles)
Yannick says "Sa ka fêt !". What does this mean, and what local dialect does it reflect?
Scenario C (Sénégal, Ouest-Afrique)
Fatou says "Salam Alaikum" and asks extensively about the family. Why are greetings so critical here?
Unit 1: Les Salutations Globales Page 1 of 2
Nom : _____________________________ Activité : Le Salon Francophone
PARTIE 3 Le Salon Francophone (Mingle Log)
Mingle around the room! Greet 4 classmates using different regional styles. Record your encounters below!
| Classmate's Name | Their Chosen Region | Greeting Expression | Gestures / Custom Used |
|---|
| e.g. Sénégal / Québec... | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
PARTIE 4 Réflexion Culturelle
Answer the following questions in complete English sentences.
1. Why is it incorrect to assume there is only one "right" way to speak or greet in French?
2. Which of the three global greeting styles (Senegal, Québec, or Martinique) was your favorite to roleplay, and why?
Global Greetings Explorations Page 2 of 2
