Common French Words And Phrases: Basic Greetings and Introductions

Mastering basic greetings and introductions is your first step toward using common French words and phrases every day—and a great way to begin to memorize French effectively.

Common Greetings

Learning common French words and phrases for greetings will help you start every conversation smoothly
Learning common French words and phrases for greetings will help you start every conversation smoothly
  • Bonjour (bohn-zhoor) – Hello / Good morning
  • Bonjour tout le monde (bohn-zhoor toot luh mond) – Hello everyone
  • Bonsoir (bohn-swahr) – Good evening
  • Bon après-midi (bohn ah-prey mee-dee) – Good afternoon
  • Enchanté(e) (ahn-shahn-tay) – Nice to meet you
  • Comment allez-vous ? (koh-mahn tah-lay voo) – How are you? (formal)
  • Quoi de neuf ? (kwah duh nuhf) – What’s up?
  • Bienvenue (byan-veh-noo) – Welcome

Introducing Yourself

Once you've greeted someone, knowing how to introduce yourself is the next essential step
Once you’ve greeted someone, knowing how to introduce yourself is the next essential step
  • Je m’appelle… (zhuh mah-pell) – My name is…
  • Je suis… (zhuh swee) – I am…
  • J’ai … ans (zhay … ahn) – I am … years old
  • Je viens de… (zhuh vyahn duh) – I come from…
  • J’habite à… (zhah-beet ah) – I live in…
  • Et toi ? (ay twah) – And you?
  • Voici… (vwah-see) – This is…

Common French Words And Phrases: Numbers and Time

Learning how to talk about numbers and time helps you use common French words and phrases every day—perfect for anyone starting to learn French for beginners.

Counting in French

Memory tricks like rhyming can help you remember basic French words and phrases related to numbers
Memory tricks like rhyming can help you remember basic French words and phrases related to numbers
  • Zéro (zay-roh) – Zero
  • Un (uh[n]) – One
  • Deux (duh) – Two
  • Trois (trwah) – Three
  • Quatre (katr) – Four
  • Cinq (sank) – Five
  • Six (sees) – Six
  • Sept (set) – Seven
  • Huit (weet) – Eight
  • Neuf (nuhf) – Nine
  • Dix (dees) – Ten

Telling Time

You can use visuals like clock faces to help memorize common words and phrases in French about time
You can use visuals like clock faces to help memorize common words and phrases in French about time
  • Quelle heure est-il ? (kel uhr ay-teel) – What time is it?
  • Il est une heure (eel ay uhn uhr) – It is one o’clock
  • Il est quatre heures et demie (eel ay katr uhr ay duh-mee) – It is 4:30
  • À quelle heure ? (ah kel uhr) – At what time?
  • Le matin (luh mah-ta[n]) – The morning
  • L’après-midi (lah-prey mee-dee) – The afternoon
  • Le soir (luh swahr) – The evening
  • La nuit (lah nwee) – The night
  • Une heure et demie (uhn uhr ay duh-mee) – One and a half hours

Common French Words And Phrases: Days of the Week and Months

You’ll hear and use common French words and phrases about days and months in conversations all the time, making them essential if you want to learn French fast and speak confidently.

Days of the Week

It’s easier to learn the days in order
It’s easier to learn the days in order
  • Lundi (lun-dee) – Monday
  • Mardi (mar-dee) – Tuesday
  • Mercredi (mehr-kruh-dee) – Wednesday
  • Jeudi (zhuh-dee) – Thursday
  • Vendredi (vahn-druh-dee) – Friday
  • Samedi (sahm-dee) – Saturday
  • Dimanche (dee-mahnsh) – Sunday

Months of the Year

Just like days, months appear in emails, appointments, events, and even the weather forecast
Just like days, months appear in emails, appointments, events, and even the weather forecast
  • Janvier (zhahn-vyay) – January
  • Février (fay-vree-yay) – February
  • Mars (mars) – March
  • Avril (ah-vreel) – April
  • Mai (meh) – May
  • Juin (zhwa[n]) – June
  • Juillet (zhwee-yay) – July
  • Août (oot) – August
  • Septembre (sep-tahm-br) – September
  • Octobre (ok-tohbr) – October
  • Novembre (noh-vahm-br) – November
  • Décembre (day-sahm-br) – December

Common French Words And Phrases: Everyday Expressions

These basic French words and phrases are the bread and butter of everyday conversations in French. Once you master these, you’ll be much more confident.

Asking for Help

When you’re stuck, knowing how to ask for help can literally save your day
When you’re stuck, knowing how to ask for help can literally save your day
  • Pouvez-vous m’aider ? (poo-veh voo meh-day) – Can you help me?
  • Je ne comprends pas (zhuh nuh kohm-prahnd pah) – I don’t understand
  • Pouvez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît ? (poo-veh voo ray-peh-tay seel voo pleh) – Can you repeat, please?
  • Est-ce que vous pouvez me dire où… ? (es-kuh voo poo-veh muh deer oo…) – Can you tell me where…?
  • Je suis perdu(e) (zhuh swee pair-doo) – I am lost
  • Aidez-moi, s’il vous plaît (eh-day mwah seel voo pleh) – Help me, please
  • Pouvez-vous m’expliquer ? (poo-veh voo meh-eks-plee-kay) – Can you explain to me?
  • J’ai besoin de… (zhay buh-zwan duh) – I need…

Expressing Gratitude and Apologies

Many locals appreciate the effort when foreigners use common words and phrases in French properly
Many locals appreciate the effort when foreigners use common words and phrases in French properly
  • Merci (mehr-see) – Thank you
  • Merci beaucoup (mehr-see boh-koo) – Thank you very much
  • De rien (duh ree-ahn) – You’re welcome
  • S’il vous plaît (seel voo pleh) – Please
  • Excusez-moi (ehk-skew-zay mwah) – Excuse me
  • Je suis désolé(e) (zhuh swee day-zoh-lay) – I am sorry
  • Je vous en prie (zhuh voo zahn pree) – Please (polite)
  • Pardonnez-moi (par-doh-nay mwah) – Pardon me
  • Ce n’est pas grave (suh nay pah grahv) – It’s not a big deal

Common French Words And Phrases: Navigational Phrases

These common words and phrases in French will help you navigate cities, travel, and explore French-speaking countries.

Asking for Directions

French people are often happy to help when you speak a few basic French words and phrases
French people are often happy to help when you speak a few basic French words and phrases
  • Où est… ? (oo eh) – Where is…?
  • Comment aller à… ? (koh-mahn ah-lay ah) – How do I get to…?
  • Pouvez-vous m’indiquer le chemin pour…? (poo-veh voo man-dee-kay luh shuh-meh poor) – Can you show me the way to…?
  • Est-ce que c’est près d’ici ? (es-kuh say prair dee-see) – Is it near here?
  • Où est-ce que je trouve… ? (oo es-kuh zhuh troov) – Where can I find…?
  • C’est comment pour aller à… ? (say koh-mahn poor ah-lay ah) – How do I go to…?
  • Il y a un… près d’ici ? (eel yah uhn… prair dee-see) – Is there a… near here?

Understanding Responses

Locals often speak fast, so try repeating the question to double-check
Locals often speak fast, so try repeating the question to double-check
  • Oui, c’est là-bas (wee say lah-bah) – Yes, it’s over there
  • Non, ce n’est pas loin (noh, suh nay pah lwah[n]) – No, it’s not far
  • Continuez tout droit (kohn-tew-neh too drwah) – Continue straight ahead
  • Tournez à gauche (toor-nay ah gohsh) – Turn left
  • Tournez à droite (toor-nay ah drwaht) – Turn right
  • C’est à côté (say ah koh-tay) – It’s next door
  • C’est en face de… (say ahn fahs duh) – It’s opposite…
  • C’est juste après (say zhoost ah-pray) – It’s just after

Common French Words And Phrases: Dining and Shopping Vocabulary

Knowing what common French words and phrases to say in restaurants and shops is vital for anyone traveling to or living in a French-speaking area. 

Ordering Food and Drinks

Ordering at a café or restaurant is one of the most exciting uses of your French skills
Ordering at a café or restaurant is one of the most exciting uses of your French skills
  • Je voudrais… (zhuh voo-dray) – I would like…
  • L’addition, s’il vous plaît (la-dee-syon seel voo pleh) – The check, please
  • Une table pour deux (ewn tah-bluh poor duh) – A table for two
  • Je voudrais un café (zhuh voo-dray uhn kah-fay) – I’d like a coffee
  • Qu’est-ce que vous recommandez ? (kes-kuh voo reh-koh-mahn-day) – What do you recommend?
  • C’est tout, merci (say too mehr-see) – That’s all, thank you
  • Merci, c’était très bon (mehr-see say-teh tray bo[n]) – Thank you, it was very good.

Shopping Expressions

Shopping in France becomes more enjoyable when you’re familiar with common words and phrases in French
Shopping in France becomes more enjoyable when you’re familiar with common words and phrases in French
  • Combien ça coûte ? (kohm-byah[n] sah koot) – How much does it cost?
  • Je voudrais acheter… (zhuh voo-dray ah-shuh-tay) – I’d like to buy…
  • Avez-vous cela en… ? (ah-veh voo suh-lah ahn) – Do you have this in…?
  • C’est trop cher (say troh shair) – It’s too expensive
  • Je cherche… (zhuh share-sh) – I’m looking for…
  • Est-ce que vous avez… ? (es-kuh voo zah-veh) – Do you have…?
  • Je voudrais payer par carte (zhuh voo-dray pay-yay par kar-t) – I’d like to pay by card
  • Puis-je essayer ? (pwee-zhuh eh-say-yay) – Can I try it on?

Conclusion

Learning common French words and phrases is a fun and effective way to start speaking French today! From greetings to numbers, days, and even dining, these expressions will boost your confidence. 

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s learn French with GuruLango today!