A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Welcome" in French
The standard French word for 'welcome,' used when greeting guests or new arrivals.
Bienvenue
byan-vuh-NOOneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use this when someone arrives at your home, your shop, or even your country. It's the direct equivalent of saying 'welcome' in English.
Alternatives
- Soyez le bienvenuMore formal, and used when addressing a single male person.
- Soyez la bienvenueMore formal, and used when addressing a single female person.
- Soyez les bienvenusMore formal, and used when addressing a group of people.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing the 'n' too strongly
The 'n' in 'bienvenue' is nasal; don't pronounce it like the English 'n'.
Forgetting the 'e' at the end
The final 'e' is pronounced, so it's not 'byan-vuhn'.
A small cultural note
While 'Bienvenue' is standard, you might also hear more elaborate phrases depending on the context, like 'Bienvenue chez nous' (welcome to our home).
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
How to say welcome to a group in French?
You can say 'Bienvenue' to a group, or use the more formal 'Soyez les bienvenus'.
Is bienvenue masculine or feminine?
'Bienvenue' itself is an adverbial phrase and doesn't change for gender. However, the longer, more formal greetings 'Soyez le/la/les bienvenu(e)(s)' do change.
When do French people say bienvenue?
French people say 'Bienvenue' when greeting someone arriving at a place they are hosting or in charge of, like a home, business, or event.
