Quebec is less formal... we use "tu" with everybody, even the doctors ! Even the students with their teachers at school... We only use " vous " for job interviews and your first day at work until everybody tells you to stop doing so and use "tu". So for me " salut !" is very acceptable. I don't know for people from France...

I think different people will have different takes on this question. I know a Frenchman on this site who believes that italki is a community, and he prefers to address everyone using "tu." Therefore, in this spirit, it would probably be equally acceptable (to him) to use "Salut" with everyone. However, perhaps it is safer to use a less informal greeting such as "Bonjour" until the native French speaker addresses you using casual speech first. In real life, this is how things would be done anyway … start with a level of formality until the other person chooses to use a more familiar discourse pattern.

Yeah, i heard this word lots of time, but never ever used!!! Can somebody please explain to me how to use in conversations, and in which situations by taking some example sentences??? Your help means a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks in advance :P xD