French Phrases You’ll Hear Often in France
Here’s a list of 50 of the most common French phrases. Each phrase comes with its English translation.
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Bonjour – HelloMerci – Thank youS’il vous plaît – PleaseComment allez-vous ? – How are you?Je m’appelle… – My name is…Je ne comprends pas – I don’t understandJe ne sais pas – I don’t knowQue veut dire ___ ? – What does ___ mean?Où est … ? – Where is …?Pouvez-vous m’aider? – Can you help me?Je voudrais… – I would like…50 Frequently Used French PhrasesOther Useful Resources for Learning About French PhrasesHere are some FAQs about Common French PhrasesWhether you’re starting out on your beginner French lessons or planning to travel to a French-speaking destination soon, learning about common French phrases is a good idea.
Here in this article, I will share common phrases in French, which I am sure you will find useful.
Before we jump to the list of commonly used French phrases, let’s get to know the very basics first. Ready?
Bonjour – Hello
Even if you don’t know any other French words or phrases, this one is actually just enough for you to get by. Use it to start every conversation in French!
Meeting a new person, say “bonjour !“
Entering a shop — “bonjour !”
Bumped into someone you know — “bonjour !”
Well, you catch the idea.
You can also check out this separate lesson on French greetings which includes sample audio exercises.
Merci – Thank you
Another very basic French word you should know is “merci”. Feel free to use this whenever you have someone to thank! It would always be appreciated.
See also: How to Say Thank you in French: The Ultimate Guide
S’il vous plaît – Please
Like “excusez-moi” (excuse me), “pardon” (pardon me, I beg your pardon), and “je suis désolé(e)” (I’m sorry), this phrase is a useful one to learn as part of basic French politeness.
Learn more about it here: The Ultimate Guide to French Politeness and Niceties
Comment allez-vous ? – How are you?
The most common and formal way to ask someone how they’re doing is to say “comment allez-vous ?” Other informal options are “Comment ça va ?” and simply, “ça va ?”
Je m’appelle… – My name is…
When you have to tell someone your name, just say Je m’appelle <your name>.
You can also check out French Cheat Sheet: Basic French Questions and Answers for your guide to the different common questions and answers in French.
Je ne comprends pas – I don’t understand
If you don’t understand anything, no need to hide it or fake it. Simply say “je ne comprends pas”!
Je ne sais pas – I don’t know
Similar to the one above, if you don’t know it, just say so.
Que veut dire ___ ? – What does ___ mean?
You can ask “Que veut dire <insert word here>” to ask about something you don’t understand. You can also say “Que veut dire ça ?” (What does that mean?)
Où est … ? – Where is …?
Trying to find your way around but not sure how to ask in French, just say “Où est (l’hôtel / la banque / l’aéroport etc.)?”
Pouvez-vous m’aider? – Can you help me?
Remember this useful phrase for when you need help!
For more useful travel phrases like this, also check out the article Essential French Travel Phrases.
Je voudrais… – I would like…
Whether you’re in a restaurant and would like to order something from the menu or you’re in a regular conversation, je voudrais is a useful phrase to remember so you could express what you want.
See also: How to Make Polite Requests in French Using Je Voudrais
Now with all the basics out of the way, let’s have a look at this list of 50 common French phrases
50 Frequently Used French Phrases
Now here is your list.
- attendez-nous làwait for us there
- avez-vous faim?are you hungry (formal)?
- c’est pour vousit is for you (formal)
- c’est quoi?what is it?
- c’est tout?is that all?
- c’est très gentilthat is very kind
- c’est combien?how much is it?
- c’est grave?is it serious?
- ça n’est pas graveno problem
- ce n’est pas comme çaIt is not like that
- combien cela coûte?how much is this?
- comment as-tu passé… ?how have you spent…? (informal)
- comment t’appelles-tu?what’s your name (informal)?
- comment vas-tu?how are you (informal)?
- depuis quand?since when?
- excusez-moiexcuse me
- il est prêthe is ready
- il veut y allerhe wants to go there
- j’ai déjà dit queI have already said that
- j’attends mes amisI am waiting for my friends
- je ne comprends pasI don’t understand
- je ne sais pasI don’t know
- je serai àI will be at
- je suis arrivéI have arrived (m)
- je suis désoléI am sorry (m)
- je suis perduI’m lost (m)
- je suis près deI am close to
- je te tiens au courantI’ll let you know (informal)
- je vais être en retardI’ll be late
- ne t’inquiète pas!don’t worry (informal)!
- nous parlerons plus tardwe will speak later
- où on se retrouve?where do we meet?
- où pouvons-nous manger?where can we eat?
- où sont les toilettes?where is the bathroom?
- où veux-tu dîner?where do you want to have dinner? (informal)
- parlez-vous anglais?do you speak English? (formal)
- pas du toutnot at all
- pas pour moinot for me
- peux-tu m’aider?can you help me (informal)?
- pourquoi pas?why not?
- pourriez-vous répéter?can you say it again? (formal)
- puis-je faire ça?can I do that?
- qu’est-ce qui se passe?what is happening?
- qu’est-ce que vous recommandez?what do you recommend (formal)?
- que voulez-vous faire?what do you want to do (formal)?
- qui est-ce?who is it?
- quoi de neuf?what’s new?
- tu vas y alleryou are going to go there (informal)
- va-t’en!go away!
- viens avec moi!come with me! (informal)
Other Useful Resources for Learning About French Phrases
The 25 most useful French phrases I learned while studying in France.
100+ Useful Conversational Words & Phrases in French
Start learning French today! This guide for beginners will help you get started.
Here are some FAQs about Common French Phrases
French phrases to know when traveling
When traveling to a French-speaking country, these phrases will be helpful!
Bonjour – Hello.
Merci – Thank you.
S’il vous plaît – please
Comment allez-vous ? – How are you?
Je vais bien/ ça va – I am fine.
Je m’appelle… – My name is…
Je ne comprends pas – I don’t understand.
Je ne sais pas – I don’t know.
Que veut dire ___ ? – What does ___ mean?
Où est … ? – Where is …?
Pouvez-vous m’aider? – Can you help me?
Je voudrais… – I would like…
Why are subject pronouns repeated in French sentences?
In spoken French, a subject pronoun is often doubled by a stressed pronoun (moi, toi, lui…) to add emphasis.
Check the example below:
English: I like pizzas
French: Moi, j’aime les pizzas
Moi = Me
J’/je= I
How do you make French sentences plural?
When changing a sentence from singular to plural, adjust the relevant nouns, adjectives, determiners, pronouns and verbs. Nouns and adjectives often add -s, but verbs must be conjugated for the subject’s person and number: Il est prêt becomes Ils sont prêts. Nouns already ending in -s, -x or -z do not add another ending. Nouns ending in -eau take -x; most in -eu do too, with exceptions such as pneus and bleus. Other irregular plurals also exist.
How do you say some very basic French words?
Bonjour /boh·zhoor/ (Hello or good morning)
Adieu /a·dyoe/ (Farewell)
Oui /wee/ (Yes)
Merci /mehr·see/ (Thank you)
Non /nõ/ (No)
Fille /fiy/ (Girl)
Garçon /gar·son/ (Boy)
Femme /fam/ (Woman)
Homme /om/ (Man)
Amour /a·mour/ (Love)
Mademoiselle (Miss; traditionally an unmarried woman)
Madame /ma·dam/ (Ms. or Mrs.; an adult woman, regardless of marital status)
Beau /bo/ (Handsome)
Belle /bel/ (Beautiful)
How do you say some common French phrases?
Here are common French phrases with audio!
Au revoir. (Goodbye)
Pardon, excusez-moi. (Pardon, excuse me.)
Je vous en prie or De rien. (You’re welcome.)
Parlez-vous anglais? (Do you speak English?)
Je ne parle pas français. (I do not speak French.)
À tout à l’heure! (See you later!)
Je ne comprends pas. (I don’t understand.)
S’il vous plaît. (Please.)
Je m’appelle… (My name is…)
Pardon or Excusez-moi. (Excuse me.)
