Short answer: "hello" in French is Bonjour, or Salut depending on the situation.
Bonjour, the core translation
The default way to say "hello" in French is Bonjour. Pronounced roughly bon-ZHOOR.
When French speakers actually use it
Bonjour for anyone you don't know well; Salut with friends.
Alternative: Salut
Salut is the other option French speakers reach for in this situation. It's not a synonym so much as a register shift, use the one that matches who you're talking to.
Practice this in a real French conversation
Reading a phrase and saying it out loud are two different skills. Skala's AI conversations let you drop "Bonjour" into a real French exchange in your first 3-minute lesson, so it sticks the first time.
Start learning French today
Skala is free on iOS and Android. One 3-minute French lesson gets you your first 0.1%. Show up daily and the % climbs. That's the whole method.
FAQ
What's the most polite way to say "hello" in French?
Both Bonjour and Salut are polite. Pick based on who you're talking to: register, not translation, is what natives are tuning into.
How do I pronounce Bonjour?
Roughly bon-ZHOOR. Recording yourself once and comparing to a native audio inside Skala closes the gap faster than reading pronunciation guides.