Learn Everyday French Words

Recommended Learn French SoftwareIf you’re traveling to a French-speaking country and you don’t know much French, it’s important to get a grasp of the basic everyday words that you will encounter. Most of the language will fly over your head, but if learn some of these everyday words, you will be able to start communicating with others and you will also get the gist of what’s being said to you.

These are all commons words (and basic phrases) that you will need in various situations throughout the day. If you learn these French words and make an effort to use them, French people will recognize that you are trying your best and will often make a great effort to bridge the language barrier.

We’ll start off by learning some words that are good to know when you are greeting someone, starting a conversation, and saying goodbye to someone. You can use these everyday words and phrases in both informal and formal settings. For instance, you will use these phrases when you meet someone new, when you are entering or leaving a shop or a bank, etc.

English French
Hello Bonjour
Hi Salut
How are you? Ça va?
I am well. Je vais bien.
My name is… Je m’appelle…
Nice to meet you. Enchanté.
Good afternoon Bon après-midi
Good evening Bonsoir
Good night Bonne nuit
Good bye Au revoir
See you tomorrow À demain
See you soon À bientôt

Polish up your speech by learning how to be polite in French! Here are some words that will help demonstrate your good manners. Be sure to use these words when you are dealing with strangers:

English French
Thank You Merci
Thank you very much Merci beaucoup
You’re welcome De rien
or
Je vous en prie
Please S’il vous plaît
Excuse me Excusez-moi
Sorry Pardon
Sir Monsieur
Ma’am Madame

At some point throughout the day, you will probably need to ask a question (if not several questions!). When you need to ask something in French, learning the following French words will help you to start your question:

English French
Who?
Who is…?
Qui?
Qui est?
What?
What is it/that?
Quoi?
Qu’est-ce que c’est?
When?
When is…?
Quand?
Quand est…?
Where?
Where is…?
Où?
Où est…?
Why?
Why is…?
Pourquoi?
Pouquoi est…?
How?
How is…?
Comment?
Comment est…?
How much? Combien?

When someone asks you a question, here are some simple answers that you can give when appropriate:

English French
Okay D’accord
Yes Oui
No Non
Maybe Peut-être
Not bad Pas mal
I think so. Je pense que oui.
I don’t think so. Je pense que non.
I am not sure. Je ne suis pas sûr.

Here are several basic French words that are very important to know, because you will most likely need to use them on a daily basis for some reason:

English French
Me Moi
You (informal) Tu or Toi
You (formal) Vous
And Et
Or Ou
Also Aussi
With Avec
Without Sans
Now Maintenant
Later Plus tard

* An important note about tu versus vous: when you are speaking with someone who you do not know, or someone you don’t know very well, always use the “vous” form. This is a sign of respect. To address someone as “tu” when they expect to be addressed as “vous” can actually be taken as an insult!

Lastly, here are some important everyday words that you should know in case of an emergency:

English French
Help me! M’aidez!
Watch out! Attention!

Be sure to learn all of these important everyday French words before you head over to France. If you can commit these everyday French words to memory, you can use them (along with gestures) to understand others and to help others understand you!


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