Learning French can be a delightful and rewarding experience, but it can also be a bit daunting for beginners. Whether you’re planning a trip to France, looking to communicate with French-speaking friends or colleagues, or simply wanting to expand your linguistic horizons, having a set of practical French phrases at your disposal can make a world of difference. In this article, we’ll cover essential phrases for various everyday situations to help you navigate the French-speaking world with confidence.
Basic Greetings and Polite Expressions
When you first start learning French, it’s important to master basic greetings and polite expressions. These are the building blocks of any conversation and can help you make a good first impression.
Bonjour (bohn-zhoor) – Hello / Good morning
Bonsoir (bohn-swahr) – Good evening
Salut (sah-loo) – Hi / Bye (informal)
Comment ça va? (koh-mohn sah vah?) – How are you?
Ça va bien, merci. (sah vah byan, mehr-see) – I’m fine, thank you.
Merci (mehr-see) – Thank you
Merci beaucoup (mehr-see boh-koo) – Thank you very much
De rien (duh ryen) – You’re welcome
S’il vous plaît (seel voo pleh) – Please (formal)
S’il te plaît (seel tuh pleh) – Please (informal)
Excusez-moi (ehk-skew-zay mwah) – Excuse me (formal)
Pardon (pahr-dohn) – Sorry / Excuse me
Introducing Yourself and Making Small Talk
When meeting new people, it’s essential to know how to introduce yourself and engage in basic small talk. Here are some phrases to help you get started:
Je m’appelle [Your Name] (zhuh mah-pell [Your Name]) – My name is [Your Name]
Enchanté(e) (ahn-shahn-tay) – Nice to meet you
D’où venez-vous? (doo veh-nay voo?) – Where are you from?
Je viens de [Your Country] (zhuh vyen duh [Your Country]) – I’m from [Your Country]
Quel âge avez-vous? (kel ahzh ah-vay voo?) – How old are you?
J’ai [Your Age] ans (zhay [Your Age] ahn) – I’m [Your Age] years old
Que faites-vous dans la vie? (kuh feht voo dahn lah vee?) – What do you do for a living?
Je suis [Your Profession] (zhuh swee [Your Profession]) – I’m a [Your Profession]
Qu’est-ce que vous aimez faire? (kes-kuh voo zay-may fehr?) – What do you like to do?
J’aime [Your Hobby] (zhem [Your Hobby]) – I like [Your Hobby]
Dining Out
One of the most enjoyable aspects of visiting a French-speaking country is experiencing the local cuisine. Here are some phrases to help you navigate restaurants and cafes:
Une table pour [number], s’il vous plaît (ewn tah-bluh poor [number], seel voo pleh) – A table for [number], please
La carte, s’il vous plaît (lah kart, seel voo pleh) – The menu, please
Qu’est-ce que vous recommandez? (kes-kuh voo reh-koh-mahn-day?) – What do you recommend?
Je voudrais [dish/drink], s’il vous plaît (zhuh voo-dray [dish/drink], seel voo pleh) – I would like [dish/drink], please
L’addition, s’il vous plaît (lah-dee-syon, seel voo pleh) – The bill, please
Combien ça coûte? (kohm-byen sah koot?) – How much does it cost?
C’était délicieux! (say-tay day-lee-syu!) – It was delicious!
Je suis végétarien(ne) (zhuh swee vay-zhay-tah-ryen[ne]) – I’m vegetarian
Je suis allergique à [ingredient] (zhuh swee ah-lehr-zheek ah [ingredient]) – I’m allergic to [ingredient]
Shopping
Whether you’re buying souvenirs, clothes, or groceries, knowing some key shopping phrases can be very helpful:
Combien ça coûte? (kohm-byen sah koot?) – How much does it cost?
Je voudrais acheter [item] (zhuh voo-dray ah-shuh-tay [item]) – I would like to buy [item]
Avez-vous [item]? (ah-vay voo [item]?) – Do you have [item]?
Quelle taille faites-vous? (kel tah-yuh feht voo?) – What size are you?
Est-ce que je peux essayer? (es-kuh zhuh puh eh-say-yay?) – Can I try it on?
Où sont les cabines d’essayage? (oo sohn lay kah-been deh-say-yazh?) – Where are the fitting rooms?
Je paie par carte/en espèces (zhuh pay par kart/ahn es-pehs) – I’ll pay by card/in cash
Avez-vous des réductions? (ah-vay voo day ray-dyook-syon?) – Do you have any discounts?
Transportation
Navigating public transportation or renting a car can be much easier with these phrases:
Où est la gare/la station de métro? (oo eh lah gahr/lah stah-syon duh may-troh?) – Where is the train station/the metro station?
Un billet pour [destination], s’il vous plaît (uhn bee-yay poor [destination], seel voo pleh) – A ticket to [destination], please
À quelle heure part le train? (ah kel uhr pahr luh tran?) – What time does the train leave?
Quel est le tarif? (kel eh luh tah-reef?) – What is the fare?
Le train est-il à l’heure? (luh tran eh-teel ah luhr?) – Is the train on time?
Je voudrais louer une voiture (zhuh voo-dray loo-ay ewn vwah-tyoor) – I would like to rent a car
Où est l’arrêt de bus? (oo eh lah-ray duh bus?) – Where is the bus stop?
Emergencies and Health
In case of emergencies, knowing how to communicate effectively can be crucial. Here are some important phrases:
Au secours! (oh suh-koor!) – Help!
Appelez une ambulance! (ah-puh-lay ewn ahm-byoo-lahns!) – Call an ambulance!
J’ai besoin d’un médecin (zhay buh-zwan duh[n] may-deh-san) – I need a doctor
Où est l’hôpital? (oo eh loh-pee-tal?) – Where is the hospital?
Je suis perdu(e) (zhuh swee pehr-dyoo) – I’m lost
J’ai été blessé(e) (zhay ay-tay bleh-say) – I’ve been injured
J’ai mal à [body part] (zhay mahl ah [body part]) – I have pain in my [body part]
Je suis allergique à [substance] (zhuh swee ah-lehr-zheek ah [substance]) – I’m allergic to [substance]
Accommodation
When checking into a hotel or renting an apartment, these phrases can come in handy:
J’ai une réservation au nom de [Your Name] (zhay ewn ray-zehr-vah-syon oh nohn duh [Your Name]) – I have a reservation under the name [Your Name]
Avez-vous une chambre libre? (ah-vay voo ewn shahm-bruh leeb?) – Do you have a room available?
Combien coûte une nuit? (kohm-byen koot ewn nwee?) – How much is a night?
À quelle heure est le petit-déjeuner? (ah kel uhr eh luh puh-tee day-zhuh-nay?) – What time is breakfast?
Y a-t-il le Wi-Fi? (ee ah-teel luh wee-fee?) – Is there Wi-Fi?
Pouvez-vous me réveiller à [time]? (poo-vay voo muh ray-vay-yay ah [time]?) – Can you wake me up at [time]?
Où se trouve [amenity]? (oo suh troov [amenity]?) – Where is [amenity] located?
Directions
Getting around a new city can be challenging, but these phrases can help you ask for and understand directions:
Où est [place]? (oo eh [place]?) – Where is [place]?
Comment puis-je aller à [place]? (koh-mohn pwee-zhuh ah-lay ah [place]?) – How do I get to [place]?
Est-ce loin? (es lwan?) – Is it far?
C’est près d’ici? (say preh dee-see?) – Is it near here?
Tournez à gauche/droite (toor-nay ah gohsh/dwahyt) – Turn left/right
Allez tout droit (ah-lay too drwah) – Go straight ahead
La deuxième rue à gauche/droite (lah duh-zyem roo ah gohsh/dwahyt) – The second street on the left/right
Je suis perdu(e) (zhuh swee pehr-dyoo) – I’m lost
Expressions of Time
Knowing how to talk about time can help you make appointments and keep your schedule:
Quelle heure est-il? (kel uhr eh-teel?) – What time is it?
Il est [hour] heure(s) (eel eh [hour] uhr) – It is [hour] o’clock
À quelle heure? (ah kel uhr?) – At what time?
Maintenant (man-tuh-nahng) – Now
Bientôt (byan-toh) – Soon
Ce matin (suh mah-tan) – This morning
Cet après-midi (set ah-pray-mee-dee) – This afternoon
Ce soir (suh swahr) – This evening
Demain (duh-man) – Tomorrow
Numbers
Understanding numbers is essential for shopping, dining, and telling time. Here are the French numbers from 1 to 10:
Un (uhn) – One
Deux (duh) – Two
Trois (trwah) – Three
Quatre (kah-truh) – Four
Cinq (sank) – Five
Six (sees) – Six
Sept (seht) – Seven
Huit (weet) – Eight
Neuf (nuhf) – Nine
Dix (dees) – Ten
Conclusion
Learning these practical French phrases will help you feel more comfortable and confident in everyday situations. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t hesitate to use these phrases as often as possible. Whether you’re ordering a meal, asking for directions, or making small talk, these essential phrases will serve as a solid foundation for your French language journey. Bon voyage et bonne chance! (Safe travels and good luck!)