Learning French can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re just starting out. But here’s a little secret: you don’t need hundreds of words to make a great first impression. With just a handful of common French phrases, you can have many meaningful interactions with locals. Let’s dive into the most useful ones.
Saying hello in French
Greetings are the first step to connecting with someone, and they’re some of the easiest French phrases to remember. Whether you’re meeting someone new or catching up with a friend, these common expressions will get you off to a warm start.
- Bonjour – Hello / Good day
- Salut – Hi / Bye
- Bon après-midi – Good afternoon
- Bonsoir – Good evening
- Coucou – Hey
Saying goodbye in French
Just like greetings, knowing a few ways to say goodbye in French can help wrap up any conversation smoothly. Here are some common phrases for farewells, formal and casual.
- Au revoir – Goodbye
- Salut – Hi / Bye
- Bonne journée – Have a nice day
- Bonne soirée – Have a nice evening
- Bonne nuit – Good night
- À bientôt – See you soon
- À demain – See you tomorrow
Polite French phrases
Politeness goes a long way, especially in French-speaking cultures. Here are some essential phrases that can help you show respect and make a good impression in any situation.
- S’il vous plaît – Please (formal)
- S’il te plaît – Please (informal)
- Merci – Thank you
- Merci beaucoup – Thank you very much
- De rien – You’re welcome
- Excusez-moi – Excuse me
- Je suis désolé – I’m sorry
Introducing yourself in French
Once you’ve mastered greetings, it’s time to share a bit about yourself.
- Je m’appelle John – My name is John
- Je suis… – I am… (add whatever you are)
- Je suis Américain – I am American
- Je suis médecin – I am a doctor
- J’habite à Chicago – I live in Chicago
- Enchanté – Nice to meet you
French small talk basics
To keep the conversation flowing, try these simple phrases for small talk. They’re great for showing interest and keeping things friendly.
- Ça va? – How are you?
- Bien, merci – Good, thank you
- Et vous? – And you?
- Que faites-vous dans la vie? – What do you do?
- Quel âge avez-vous? – How old are you?
- D’où venez-vous? – Where are you from?
- Oui – Yes
- Non – No
- Peut-être – Maybe
- Bien sûr – Of course
- Bienvenue – Welcome
- Félicitations! – Congratulations!
- Amusez-vous bien – Have fun
- Bon voyage – Have a good trip
Basic French questions
Here are a few common questions to help you connect with others and find what you need.
- Parlez-vous anglais? – Do you speak English?
- Quel est votre nom? – What is your name?
- Où est…? – Where is…?
- Où sont les toilettes? – Where is the toilet?
- Avez-vous…? – Do you have…?
- Avez-vous un menu en anglais? – Do you have a menu in English?
- Vous comprenez? – Do you understand?
- Combien ça coûte? – How much does it cost?
- Quelle heure est-il? – What’s the time?
Also, it won’t hurt to know the most question words.
- Quoi? – What?
- Qui? – Who?
- Où? – Where?
- Quand? – When?
- Comment? – How?
- Combien? – How many?
- Pourquoi? – Why?
- Quel? – Which?
Handling problems in French
Whether you’re lost or need clarification, these simple phrases will come in handy if you need assistance.
- J’ai besoin d’aide – I need help
- Pouvez-vous m’aider? – Can you help me?
- Pouvez-vous répéter? – Can you repeat?
- Pouvez-vous parlez plus lentement? – Can you speak slower?
- Je ne comprends pas – I don’t understand
- Je ne parle pas français – I don’t speak French
- Parlez-vous anglais? – Do you speak English?
- Je suis perdu – I’m lost
- Je suis malade – I’m sick
- Attention! – Careful!
- Au secours! – Help!
- Où est l’hôpital? – Where is the hospital?
- J’ai besoin d’un docteur – I need a doctor
- C’est une urgence – It’s an emergency
Ordering food and drinks in French
Here are some basic French phrases to use at a café or restaurant.
- La carte, s’il vous plaît – The menu, please
- L’addition, s’il vous plaît – The check, please
- Une table pour deux – A table for two
- Je voudrais… – I would like…
- Un verre d’eau – A glass of water
- Un café au lait – A coffee with milk
- Le vin rouge/blanc – Red/white wine
- Sans sucre – Without sugar
- Qu’est-ce que vous recommandez? – What do you recommend?
- Encore du vin – More wine
- C’est délicieux – It’s delicious
- À emporter – To go
Want to learn more? Check out our article on the most common French words.
Formal vs. informal (vous vs. tu)
In French, there are two ways to say “you”: vous and tu. All the phrases here use vous, the polite version you’d use with strangers, older folks, or in formal situations. But when you’re with friends or family, you can switch to the more relaxed tu.
Here’s how it changes things:
- Parlez-vous anglais? – Do you speak English? (formal)
- Tu parles anglais? – Do you speak English? (informal)
- Pouvez-vous m’aider? – Can you help me? (formal)
- Tu peux m’aider? – Can you help me? (informal)
You might notice that the word order and the form of the verb change too, but that’s a separate, more complex topic.
Conclusion
Learning these common French phrases is a great start for any beginner. Remember, it’s all about connecting with others and showing respect for the language and culture. Practice these phrases whenever you can, and don’t worry about making mistakes — French speakers appreciate the effort!
