French Phrase
Salut? T'es là?
Meaning
Literally “Hi? Are you there?” It’s a quick, informal way to make sure the other person is listening or still on the line, often used at the start of a phone call, video chat, or in a group chat.
When to use
Use it with friends, close colleagues, or anyone you’d address with *tu*. It’s perfect when you want to confirm the other person’s presence before launching into a conversation, especially in digital or spoken informal contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Salut?T'eslà?
Salut
An informal greeting that works like “hi” or “hey”. It can also be used to say goodbye among friends.
T'es
Contraction of *tu es* (you are). The apostrophe replaces the vowel *u* and the verb is in the present indicative.
là
An adverb of place meaning “there”. In colloquial speech it’s often used after a verb to ask if someone is present or paying attention.
Punctuation
Both the greeting and the question are followed by a question mark, signalling a casual, checking‑in tone.
🗨In Conversation
Salut? T'es là?
Hey? Are you there?
Oui, je suis là! Quoi de neuf?
Yeah, I’m here! What’s up?
✕Common Mistakes
Vous es là?
In informal speech you should use *tu* and the contraction *t'es*. *Vous êtes là* is formal and sounds stiff in this context.
Salut? Es là?
The subject pronoun *tu* (or its contraction *t'*) is required; dropping it makes the sentence ungrammatical.
Salut? T'es la?
The accent on *là* is essential; without it the word means “the” (feminine singular) instead of the adverb “there”.
↔Alternatives
Coucou, t'es là?
Hey, are you there?
Hey, tu es là?
Hey, are you there?
Allô, t'es là?
Hello, are you there?
Cultural Tip
In France, *Salut* is strictly informal; avoid it in business meetings or with people you don’t know well. The phrase *T'es là?* is a very common “check‑in” line on the phone or in group chats, and the tone is friendly, not demanding. If you need a more formal version, say *Bonjour, vous êtes là?*.