These pages cover the French phrases beginners use every day: greetings, please and thank you, apologies, ordering, paying and asking the way. Each one gives France French pronunciation, the vous and tu forms, how people reply and the mistakes English speakers tend to make. Begin with bonjour: in France, almost every exchange with a stranger opens with it.
- French taught
- France French
- Level
- A1
- On each page
- Pronunciation, vous and tu forms, replies, common mistakes
- You
- vous for strangers, staff and older people; tu for friends, family and children
- Real usage
- Most pages quote a line from a Contos story chapter
- How to say beautiful in FrenchBeau, belle or bel? How to say beautiful in French, make it agree, compliment a place or a person, and avoid the belle-mère trap.
- How to say cheers in FrenchSanté, à la vôtre or tchin-tchin? How to say cheers in French, answer a toast correctly, and clink glasses the French way.
- How to say delicious in FrenchDélicieux, très bon or trop bon? How to say delicious in French, compliment the cook, and why c'est bon doesn't always mean tasty.
- How to say "Do you speak English?" in FrenchVous parlez anglais or parlez-vous anglais? How to ask if someone speaks English in French, politely, and what to say when they don't.
- How to say excuse me in FrenchExcusez-moi, excuse-moi or pardon? How to say excuse me in French, get someone's attention politely, and apologise.
- How to say good morning in FrenchFrench has no everyday word for good morning: you say bonjour. When to use bonne journée, bonne matinée and Québec's bon matin.
- How to say good night in FrenchBonne nuit, bonsoir or bonne soirée? How to say good night in French, plus sleep well, sweet dreams and what to say at bedtime.
- How to say goodbye in FrenchAu revoir, salut, à bientôt or adieu? How to say goodbye in French in shops, among friends, on the phone and in emails.
- How to say happy birthday in FrenchJoyeux anniversaire or bon anniversaire? How to say happy birthday in French, write it in a card, and why Québec says bonne fête.
- How to say hello in FrenchBonjour, salut, bonsoir or coucou? How to say hello in French to strangers, friends and shop staff, and why you never skip bonjour.
- How to say "How are you?" in FrenchComment allez-vous, ça va or tu vas bien? How to ask "How are you?" in French, formal and informal, and how to answer it.
- How to say "How much is it?" in FrenchC'est combien, ça coûte combien or je vous dois combien? How to ask prices in French, understand euros, and pay in shops and markets.
- How to say "I don't understand" in FrenchJe ne comprends pas or je n'ai pas compris? How to say I don't understand in French, ask someone to repeat, and slow a conversation down.
- How to say I love you in FrenchJe t'aime, je t'aime bien or je t'adore? How to say I love you in French, why adding bien or beaucoup weakens it, and how to reply.
- How to say I miss you in FrenchTu me manques: how to say I miss you in French, why the sentence works back to front, and how to say I missed you or we miss you.
- How to say "my name is" in FrenchJe m'appelle, je suis or moi, c'est? How to say my name is in French, ask someone's name with tu or vous, and spell your name.
- How to say nice to meet you in FrenchEnchanté, ravi de vous rencontrer or au plaisir? How to say nice to meet you in French, reply, and greet with a handshake or la bise.
- How to say please in FrenchS'il vous plaît or s'il te plaît? How to say please in French, make polite requests with je voudrais, and say yes please.
- How to say see you later in FrenchÀ plus tard, à tout à l'heure or à bientôt? How to say see you later in French, and which phrase fits later today, tomorrow or someday.
- How to say sorry in FrenchDésolé, pardon or je m'excuse? How to say sorry in French, from a quick oops to a real apology, and how to accept one.
- How to say thank you in FrenchMerci, merci beaucoup or je vous remercie? How to say thank you in French, thank someone for something, and avoid common mistakes.
- How to ask for the bill in FrenchL'addition, s'il vous plaît: how to ask for the bill in French, why waiters wait for you to ask, how to pay, and whether to tip in France.
- How to ask where the toilet is in FrenchOù sont les toilettes? How to ask where the toilet is in French, why it's plural, and why salle de bain is the wrong word to ask for.
- How to say yes and no in FrenchOui, non and the useful little si: how to say yes and no in French, contradict a negative question, and sound natural with ouais and d'accord.
- How to say you're welcome in FrenchDe rien, je vous en prie or avec plaisir? How to say you're welcome in French, which reply sounds polite, and what Québec says instead.
Which five French phrases matter most?
French politeness phrases do more work than their English equivalents, so the first five are mostly about manners:
- Bonjour: say it each time you walk into a shop, a bakery or a waiting room, followed by madame or monsieur. Leaving it out comes across as rude rather than shy.
- S'il vous plaît after a request, or open with je voudrais for something softer.
- Merci. You will hear de rien back, or je vous en prie in a smarter setting.
- Excusez-moi to get someone's attention; a quick pardon to squeeze past.
- Je ne comprends pas, then vous pouvez répéter, s'il vous plaît ?
For your first café, add l'addition, s'il vous plaît: French waiters wait to be asked. For shops and markets, learn c'est combien ?.
When do you say vous and when tu?
French is stricter than English here. Use vous with anyone you don't know, anyone serving you and anyone clearly older, and wait for them to suggest tu. Among young people and friends of friends, tu comes quickly. Every phrase page gives both forms: excusez-moi and excuse-moi, s'il vous plaît and s'il te plaît.
Spoken French also mixes a polite opener with relaxed grammar. In this A1 Contos chapter, a neighbour on the stairs uses the vous form, then asks his question the way people really talk, with c'est quoi rather than the textbook qu'est-ce que c'est:
Il dit : Excusez-moi, c'est quoi dans la valise ?Frequently asked questions
What are the most useful French phrases for a trip to France?
Bonjour, merci, s'il vous plaît, excusez-moi, je ne comprends pas, c'est combien ? and l'addition, s'il vous plaît. Add où sont les toilettes ? and you can handle shops, cafés and stations politely.
Do French people mind if I speak English?
Many will switch to English to help, but it goes better if you start in French. A bonjour and an excusez-moi, parlez-vous anglais ? before your question changes the tone of the whole exchange.
Why does French drop so many letters when spoken?
Final consonants are usually silent, and words run together through liaison and elision. That is why s'il vous plaît sounds like "seel voo pleh". Each phrase page has a pronunciation guide, and the French pronunciation guide explains the rules.
How can I practise French phrases in context?
Read them in stories. Contos chapters are written for learners from A1 to B2, and characters greet, thank and apologise just as people do in France. Tap any word to see its meaning and save it as a flashcard.