50 Common French Phrases (with PDF + MP3)
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50 Common French Phrases (with PDF + MP3)

useful french phrases



But before anything else...

Get the free PDF and MP3

I also offer an extended version of this blog post, (90 Common French Phrases) saved as a PDF that you can print for daily use. You can also listen to the audio in MP3 format which is included in the French Learning Package. Access it below by clicking the download button.


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. 


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. 


S’il vous plaît - Please



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>. 


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


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 ...?


Pouvez-vous m’aider? - Can you help me?

Remember this useful phrase for when you need help!


Je voudrais... - I would like...




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 gentilit is very nice
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?
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)

Want more French Phrases?


Other Useful Resources for Learning About French Phrases


100+ Useful Conversational Words & Phrases in French

Start learning French today! This guide for beginners will help you get started.

About the Author Frederic Bibard


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