Essential Phrases Needs for Real Life
Learning French language be able to feel like a range of grammar rules and verb conjugations before ever to get to say a real sentence. Yet don't need any of that to start talking today. This the guide skips the theory and goes straight to the phrases you'll actually use ordering a "coffee, asking for directions, introducing yourself, getting through a shop without panicking".
Saving this lesson, work through a few phrases a day, and will be surprised how quickly surviving turns into chatting.
How to be using this list:
- Say every phrase out noisy. Reading and speaking French use different muscles, literally. The mouth needs the reps as much as your memory does.
- Start with Greetings and Getting Around. Those two sections alone will carry through most day-to-day situations.
- Don't chase a perfect accent yet. Being understood affair far more than sounding native, that comes with time.
- These pronunciation guides are approximations, built from English sounds to get you close. For the real thing, pair this list with audio from a native speaker YouTube and language apps are great for that.
Quick Note on Tu vs. Vous
French has two ways to say 'you': tu [casual: friends, family, people your own age] and vous [formal: strangers, elders, anyone at work, or anyone you're unsure about]. When in doubt, use 'vous'. It's always the safer choice with someone new.
1. Greetings & Politeness
French English How to Say It
Bonjour Hello / Good morning bohn-ZHOOR
Bonsoir Good evening bohn-SWAHR
Salut Hi / Bye (casual) sah-LEW
S'il vous plaît Please seel voo PLEH
Merci beaucoup Thank you very much mehr-SEE boh-KOO
De rien You're welcome duh ree-EN
Excusez-moi Excuse me ex-kew-zay MWAH
Pardon Sorry / Pardon me par-DOHN
2. Introducing Yourself
French English How to Say It
Je m'appelle... My name is... zhuh mah-PELL
Comment vous appelez-vous? What's your name? (formal) koh-mahn voo zah-play-VOO
Comment tu t'appelles? What's your name? (casual) koh-mahn too tah-PELL
Enchanté(e) Nice to meet you ahn-shahn-TAY
Je viens de... I'm from... zhuh vee-EN duh
J'ai ... ans I am ... years old zhay ... ahn
3. Café & Restaurant
French English How to Say It
Je voudrais... I would like... zhuh voo-DREH
L'addition, s'il vous plaît the check, please lah-dee-see-OHN seel voo PLEH
Un café, s'il vous plaît A coffee, please uhn kah-FAY seel voo PLEH
C'est délicieux This is delicious seh day-lee-see-UH
Je suis végétarien(ne) I am vegetarian zhuh swee vay-zhay-tah-ree-EN
Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ? What do you recommend? kess kuh voo ruh-koh-mahn-DAY
De l'eau, s'il vous plaît Some water, please duh loh seel voo PLEH
4. Getting Around & Asking for Help
French English How to Say It
Où est...? Where is...? oo EH
Je ne comprends pas I don't understand zhuh nuh kohm-prahn PAH
Parlez-vous anglais? Do you speak English? par-lay voo ahn-GLEH
Pouvez-vous m'aider ? Can you help me? poo-vay voo may-DAY
Je suis perdu(e) I'm lost zhuh swee pehr-DEW
Comment aller à...? How do I get to...? koh-mahn ah-lay AH
À gauche / à droite / tout droit Left / right / straight ahead ah GOHSH / ah DRWAHT / too DRWAH
Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît? Could you repeat that, please? poo-vay voo ray-pay-TAY seel voo PLEH
5. Shopping
French English How to Say It
Combien ça coûte? How much does this cost? kom-bee-EN sah KOOT
Je peux essayer? Can I try it on? zhuh puh eh-say-YAY
C'est trop cher That's too expensive seh troh SHEHR
Vous acceptez la carte? Do you accept card? voo zak-sep-TAY lah KART
Je cherche... I'm looking for... zhuh SHEHRSH
Avez-vous...? Do you have...? ah-vay VOO
Je regarde seulement, merci I'm just looking, thanks zhuh ruh-gahrd suhl-MAHN mehr-SEE
6. Small Talk
French English How to Say It
Comment ça va ? / Ça va ? How are you? / How's it going? koh-mahn sah VAH
Ça va bien, merci I'm doing well, thanks sah vah bee-EN mehr-SEE
Quel temps fait-il? What's the weather like? kel tahn feh-TEEL
Il fait beau / froid / chaud It's nice / cold / hot out eel feh BOH / FRWAH / SHOH
Qu'est-ce que tu fais ? What are you doing? kess kuh too FEH
C'est une bonne idée That's a good idea seh tewn bun ee-DAY
Bonne chance! Good luck! bun SHAHNS
7. Saying Goodbye
French English How to Say It
Au revoir Goodbye oh ruh-VWAHR
À bientôt See you soon ah bee-en-TOH
À demain See you tomorrow ah duh-MEN
Bonne journée Have a good day bun zhoor-NAY
Bonne soirée Have a good evening bun swah-RAY
Prends soin de toi Take care prahn swan duh TWAH
Making It Stick
A phrase lesson only works if you actually use it. A few ways to make these phrases stay with you:
Pick five phrases today. Say each one ten times out loud before moving to the next batch.
Use them in real situations, even small ones, order your actual coffee in French tomorrow morning, even if it's just to yourself.
Attach phrases to situations, not translations. Instead of memorizing 'Où est... = Where is...', picture yourself lost and needing to ask. The phrase surfaces faster when it's tied to a moment, not a flashcard.
Come back to this list weekly. diverge repetition hit one long stuff session every time.
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