Small talk is the polite (sometimes dreadfully awkward) conversation usually shared between people who are strangers or mere acquaintances. But what if you’re in France or any other French-speaking area? How can you navigate small talk *and* speak French at the same time??? How do you make small talk in French?

Well, you’re in luck because this article hopes to address all of your worries. We’ll be talking about French conversations, basic phrases, and several other useful topics.

Why do you need to learn how to make small talk in French?

Though it may sound simple enough, it’s not as easy to pull off as one would think, with some people claiming that there is a special “art” to it. But whether you’re fond of it or not, small talk is a fact of life---just like taxes or public transport that go on strike.

When you’re in public places or in a social situation such as parties or a wedding reception, small talk is (a) necessary (evil).

Small talk also comes handy in breaking the ice during important life events like before your big job interview or that important networking event you need to join...or when the person whom you’re convinced is *the* love of your life is standing beside you in the buffet area.

Unfortunately, mastering small talk in French is not as easy as thinking what to say and blurting it out. But with this guide, you should be able to pick up ideas on how to become better at small talk---or at least, no longer dread it.

1. Conversation basics: how to make interesting small talk

First of all, remember that the ingredients that make small talk interesting is similar whether it’s in French or English or whatever language you’re using. Just tweak it a little and take into account the cultural differences.

But to be a pro at small talk in French, here are a few tips:

If you need to master French small talk for business purposes, you can also check out this article about French business culture.

2.Topic do’s and don’ts for French people

 Some topics which are considered normal or common in other cultures can be considered as taboo in France. For example, other nationalities would find it acceptable to ask people they just met questions like if they’re married, what they do for a living, if they have kids---or in some cases, how much they make in a year. In France, that is never a topic for small talk.

Conversation gurus might tell you about the FORM technique---a strategy used to master the art of small talk (F=Family, O=Occupation, R-Recreation, M=Money). Trust me, you need to throw this out the window when you’re speaking with French people.

Instead, focus on innocuous topics like the weather (of course!), current events (“avez-vous lu à propos de..?” Have you read about…?), and cultural topics like food, movies, art, music, and so on. 

And remember to use vous instead of tu!

To learn more about taboos in French conversations as well as other faux pas, check out this guide. 

3. Introductions and greetings

Introductions are a different lesson on itself and needs plenty of examples. But you can learn how to introduce yourself properly in French and how to say basic greetings with this complete lesson on Basic French Greetings. It comes with audio lessons to help you with the pronunciation, too!

4. Personal information: common questions and answers

 Here is a list of phrases you can use and practice when giving and asking for personal information. Take note that the list makes use of the formal “vous”.

Personal Information Phrases in French

5. Personal interests: common questions and answers

Now let’s proceed with personal interests. Once you have gotten the basic personal information questions out of the way, it’s always nice to discuss personal interests a little bit. Here are some words and phrases you can use with that.

For this part, we have added the informal “tu” forms of the phrases considering that at this point of your chat, you might already be on first-name basis with your conversation partner (just in case).

Personal Interest Topics in French

Conclusion

Small talk in French or any other language can be awkward and stressful. But hopefully this article will help you navigate French conversations with ease. 

So, go and practice your small talk in French, have a chat with a friend! Test what you have learned tooday.

Other Resources

You may also want to check out other related articles:

French Cheat Sheet: Basic French Questions and Answers

Useful French Greetings for All Occasions

Did you know that here in Talk in French, we have plenty of good resources to help you master conversational French? Whether you are a super newbie or you have previous background in French,  we have a series of courses perfect for you. Check out the Complete Beginner French Course below.