"Salut" is a casual, informal greeting, basically the equivalent of saying "hey" or "hi" in English. However, you would never use this greeting in French unless you already knew the person you were greeting. It wouldn't be considered appropriate to greet a stranger with "salut."  "Salut" is also used if you have a basic familiarity with someone, even if you're not exactly friends. For example, if you go to the same café every morning for coffee, the barista might say "salut" to you as an indication that they recognized you from your previous visits. You'll also hear "salut" a lot on French TV shows or YouTube channels, where it is used to communicate a level of familiarity between the speaker and their viewers. When greeting a child, you can say "salut, toi" (seh-loo twah). It means "hey you," but is said in a fun, playful way. "Coucou" is the most casual and light-hearted way to greet someone in French. It's popular among children, but many young people also use it, particularly young women.  Adults also use "coucou" when they're being silly or goofy. However, remember that this is a tremendously informal greeting and should never be used with someone you're supposed to show respect to, like your teacher or your boss at work, even if you're on relatively friendly terms with them. As with "salut, toi," you can also say "coucou, toi." In English, when you're greeting someone you know, it's common to simply say "what's up" or "how's it going" without saying "hello" first. The French equivalent is simply to say "ça va?" Some other ways to say "ça va" include:  "Quoi de neuf?" (kwah d'nuhff): What's new? "Ça roule?" (sah roohl): How's it going? "Comment ça va?" (coh-moh sah vah): How are you? "Quoi de beau?" (kwah d'boh): What's beautiful? When you say "tiens" as an interjection when you see someone, it essentially means "there you are!" It's also the equivalent of saying "hey!" or "how about that!" in English.  You could say this anytime you see someone you're friends with. However, it's most common when you see a friend in an unexpected place, or after a longer period of time. In this context, "tiens" is similar to "voilà" (vwah-lah), which you may hear used as well.

Summary: Say "salut" (seh-loo) in casual settings among friends. Try "coucou" (coo-coo) to be cute and playful with friends. Jump straight to "ça va" (sah vah) without any "hello" first. Use "tiens" (tee-yehn) as an interjection when you see a friend.


If you have a skin condition, such as eczema, talk with your doctor about treatment. It’s important to aggressively treat any skin illnesses or diseases, as they can make your body more vulnerable to cellulitis. If your doctor prescribes any medication for your skin condition, such as antibiotic cream, use it according to the directions. At the end of each day, sit down on your bed or stand in front of your bathroom mirror. Look over your skin, paying particular attention to your lower body. See if you notice any cuts, blisters, or other wounds. If you have diabetes or circulation issues, check your feet particularly closely. Cracks from dry skin or minor infections can open up and let in dangerous bacteria. In the first few days after surgery, inspect your surgical cuts or punctures at least every 2 hours. Talk with your doctor about when you can space out these inspections. Look for a red rash, obvious veins, pus, or weeping from the incision. Cellulitis often stems from accidental injuries that occur during gardening, biking, hiking, playing, skating, or other activities. Take care to cover up the most vulnerable parts of your body when enjoying the outdoors. Gloves, heavy footwear, helmets, shin guards, water shoes, and long pants/shirts can all offer a measure of protection. When a spider, insect, dog, human, or other animal punctures your skin, the possibility of a connected infection rises. Quickly rinse out any puncture wound or bite with water. Seek medical attention if it appears deep or if it was caused by a poisonous creature.  If red streaks spread out from the wound, then this means that infection is spreading. It doesn’t always develop into cellulitis, but it can. For example, if you are reaching your hand into a dark outdoor space, such as storage area, wear protective gloves to avoid spider bites. If there is a warning regarding bacteria, don’t enter into the water. Avoid swimming in stagnant or dirty water. And, take a warm shower shortly after swimming to wash away any exterior germs. Be careful not get any cuts while in the water, as these can let in bacteria. Carrying around extra weight can make you more vulnerable to recurring instances of cellulitis. Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your current weight and how it impacts your health and potential for infections. Discuss the possibility of working with a personal trainer or nutritionist to create a healthier you.

Summary: Get treatment for an underlying or related medical conditions. Keep an extra close watch on wounds if you are immune compromised. Monitor closely any surgical incisions. Wear protective gear during outdoor activities. Avoid getting bitten. Be careful when swimming in lakes, rivers, or oceans. Talk to your doctor about a healthy weight for you.


Until the water clears, change up to 20 percent of it on a daily basis. Remove some of the dirty water and immediately replace it with fresh water.  Do not change more than 20 percent of the water in one day. Changing more can shock you fish and cause them to become ill or die. Changing out some of the water removes at least some of the waste. The bacteria thriving in your water then begin to starve, thereby creating cleaner water. After the water clears, you only need to change water once every two weeks or so. If your fish do not regularly eat all of the food you put in the tank, reduce the amount of food by 5 to 10 percent.  When fish food breaks down, its particles can make the water dirty. The decayed food can also breed bacteria. Check on the aquarium 10 minutes or so after you feed your fish. If the fish have stopped eating at that point, use a net to remove any uneaten food. Too many chemicals can hurt your fish, but regular doses of aquarium salt, water conditioner, or quick cure can help clear your water. These chemicals are formulated to clear debris and correct bacteria levels.  Follow the dosage on your box of aquarium salt and apply the salt once. Follow the dosage on the bottle of conditioner and apply it each day until te water clears. Use half a dose of quick cure each day until the water clears. Only use one of these chemicals at a time. Mixing chemicals can hurt the ecosystem of your aquarium. Sprinkle a handful of gravel from an established aquarium into your tank. Wait roughly 24 to 48 hours and note the results.  Established gravel has beneficial bacteria on it. Unlike the harmful bacteria living in your tank, this bacteria can digest waste and balance out its harmful cousins. Beneficial bacteria also helps to establish a bacteria colony in your filter. When a colony grows in your filter, it attracts and draws bacteria out of the tank itself, clearing up the water. The gravel must come from an established tank with health fish. You can usually purchase some from a store that sells fish if you do not know anyone who can give you some for free. The aquarium must have a power filter, and that filter must be clean and working properly.  Feel the outside of the filter. If it seems abnormally warm, it might be clogged or damaged. Check the instructions for your particular filter model to determine the proper way to clean it.


Summary: Change some of the water. Reduce the amount of food. Add aquarium chemicals. Mix in some gravel. Check the filter.