If you're a fan of French cinema, then you probably know about the gritty thriller The French Connection. Directed by William Friedkin, the film starred Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider as NYPD narcotics detectives Jimmy Doyle and Buddy Russo. The pair are tracking a Corsican crime syndicate importing heroin from Marseille, and attempting to intercept the shipment. As the plot unfolds, both men become involved in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse as they try to take out their respective rivals.
If it's been a long time since you last saw someone then you might say "Ca fait longtemps" (literally, 'long time no see'). This is used more in casual situations and may sound a little cheesy so it wouldn't be appropriate at a job interview for example. However it is a good way to show you care about your friends and family.
Depending on how formal the situation is, you can also use salut as a greeting. The main difference between this and bonjour is that salut is used in more formal settings. So you wouldn't use it to greet a stranger or in school for example, but it would be fine to say hello to your teacher or at a party. You can also use salut a tous (hello everyone) in larger groups.
You might also hear French people answering the phone with a simple allo, in a slightly different tone to salut. This is because they often use this greeting when they're trying to sound informal. It can also be used when introducing themselves on the phone, so you might hear "Allo" followed by their name.
Some people might greet you with a The french connection fact or fiction casual allo as well, especially if they think you're a friend or they like you. This is because it's a more informal way of saying hello, rather than being quite formal and reserved. You might also hear this as an answer to a question - for example, "Allo" in response to a question about how you're doing or whether you're free.
Another common greeting is coucou, which again can be used as a casual or formal greeting. The word coucou literally means "hi" in French, and it's usually used to greet friends. It's very similar to the English phrase "Hi there" or the Spanish "hola".
When addressing someone you haven't seen for a while, a nice thing to do is to add a compliment such as jolie, tu es tres fabuleux or tu es tres joli, tu m'adore. This shows you care and it will make them feel great too.
Some French people might even be a little more cheeky and greet you with a kiss, if they're feeling particularly flirty or you have a special relationship. This is a bit more intimate than simply saying hello and can be very romantic. For example you might be greeted with kisses when you meet your French boyfriend or girlfriend for the first time.
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