Essential French Phrases for Beginners

Starting your French learning journey? Félicitations! One of the quickest ways to feel more confident and navigate basic situations is by learning some essential phrases. Whether you're planning a trip to a French-speaking country or just beginning your online classes, these core phrases will be incredibly useful.

This guide provides fundamental French expressions for greetings, introductions, basic questions, and politeness – perfect for absolute beginners.

Greetings & Politeness (Les Salutations et la Politesse)

Being polite is highly valued in French culture. These phrases are indispensable.

Hello / Good morning / Good day: Bonjour
Good evening: Bonsoir
Hi / Bye (Informal): Salut
Goodbye: Au revoir
See you soon: À bientôt
Please (Formal / Plural): S'il vous plaît
Please (Informal / Singular): S'il te plaît
Thank you: Merci
Thank you very much: Merci beaucoup
You're welcome (Common): De rien
You're welcome (Formal): Je vous en prie
You're welcome (Informal): Je t'en prie
Excuse me / Sorry (To get attention or apologize): Excusez-moi (Formal) / Excuse-moi (Informal)
Sorry / Pardon me (Minor bump or interruption): Pardon
Sorry (Expressing regret - add 'e' if speaker is female): Désolé(e)

Basic Introductions (Les Présentations de Base)

Introduce yourself and ask about others.

My name is...: Je m'appelle... (e.g., Je m'appelle Sophie.)
What's your name? (Formal): Comment vous appelez-vous ?
What's your name? (Informal): Comment t'appelles-tu ?
Nice to meet you (Add 'e' if speaker is female): Enchanté(e)
How are you? (Formal): Comment allez-vous ?
How are you? (Informal): Comment vas-tu ?
How's it going? (Very Informal): Ça va ?
(Response) Very well, thank you. And you?: Très bien, merci. Et vous ? (Formal) / Et toi ? (Informal)
(Response) Not bad: Pas mal.
(Response) So-so: Comme ci, comme ça.

Asking Basic Questions (Poser des Questions Simples)

Essential questions for navigating conversations.

Yes: Oui
No: Non
Do you speak English? (Formal): Parlez-vous anglais ?
Do you speak English? (Informal): Parles-tu anglais ?
I speak a little French: Je parle un peu français.
I don't understand: Je ne comprends pas.
Could you repeat, please? (Formal): Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ?
Can you repeat, please? (Informal): Peux-tu répéter, s'il te plaît ?
Where is...? : Où est... ? (e.g., Où est la gare ? - Where is the train station?)
How much is it?: Combien ça coûte ?
What time is it?: Quelle heure est-il ?

Basic Needs & Getting Around (Besoins Essentiels et Déplacements)

Useful phrases for restaurants, shops, and emergencies.

I would like... (Polite): Je voudrais... (e.g., Je voudrais un café. - I would like a coffee.)
The bill, please: L'addition, s'il vous plaît.
Where are the toilets?: Où sont les toilettes ?
Help!: Au secours ! (Use in real emergencies)
I am lost (Add 'e' if speaker is female): Je suis perdu(e).
Water: de l'eau (pronounced roughly 'duh low')
Food: la nourriture

Important Reminders:

Vous vs. Tu: Remember to use vous (formal/plural 'you') with people you don't know, elders, or in professional settings. Use tu (informal 'you') with friends, family, children, and sometimes colleagues (depending on workplace culture). When in doubt, start with vous.
Pronunciation: French pronunciation can be tricky. Pay attention to silent letters (like the final 's' or 't' in many words), nasal sounds (like in bonjour, enchanté), and liaisons (linking the final consonant of one word to the starting vowel of the next). Listen to native speakers as much as possible!
Gender Agreement: Notice that some words change based on the speaker's gender (e.g., enchanté/enchantée, désolé/désolée, perdu/perdue).

Tips for Learning Essential Phrases

Start Small: Focus on mastering a few key phrases from each category first.
Use Flashcards: Write the English on one side and the French on the other. Test yourself regularly.
Practice Out Loud: Saying the phrases helps with pronunciation and memorization. Repeat after audio recordings.
Use Them! Try using the phrases in your lessons, with language partners, or even just talking to yourself. Context helps them stick.
Listen Actively: Watch French movies/shows (with subtitles) or listen to music/podcasts and try to pick out these essential phrases.
Get Structured Practice: Our online French courses incorporate these phrases into realistic dialogues and exercises.

Conclusion

Learning these essential French phrases is your first step towards communicating effectively. They allow you to be polite, ask basic questions, introduce yourself, and handle simple situations.

Don't be afraid to use them, even if you make mistakes. Practice consistently, and you'll build the confidence to engage in basic French conversations. Bonne chance! (Good luck!)

Start Learning French with Sprachlingua