French · Real conversations
Meeting people: French conversation practice
Start a friendly exchange and find a connection. Read the exchange, reveal the translations when you need them, then try your part before looking at the sample answers.
A1 · Read and rehearse
Your role: A guest meeting someone at a small social gathering.
Goal: Start a friendly exchange and find a connection.
Read the conversation
Partner
Bonjour, je viens d'une autre ville pour une visite.
Show English translation
Hello, I'm visiting from another town.
You
Qu'est-ce qui t'amène ici ?
Show English translation
What brings you here?
Partner
Anna m'a invité / invitée. C'est une amie de longue date.
Show English translation
Anna invited me. She's an old friend.
You
Comment connais-tu Anna ?
Show English translation
How do you know Anna?
Partner
On s'est rencontrés à l'université. Je cherche encore mes repères ici.
Show English translation
We met at university. I'm still finding my way around.
You
C'est la première fois que tu viens ici ?
Show English translation
Is this your first time here?
Partner
Oui, c'est ma première visite. Anna m'a dit qu'elle te connaît.
Show English translation
Yes, it's my first visit. Anna said she knows you.
You
J'ai beaucoup entendu parler de toi.
Show English translation
I've heard a lot about you.
Partner
C'est gentil ! Ton visage me dit quelque chose aussi.
Show English translation
That's nice! You look familiar, too.
You
On s'est déjà rencontrés ?
Show English translation
Have we met before?
Try your part first
Partner says: Hello, I'm visiting from another town. Your goal: What brings you here?
Reveal a sample reply
Qu'est-ce qui t'amène ici ?
What brings you here?
Partner says: Anna invited me. She's an old friend. Your goal: How do you know Anna?
Reveal a sample reply
Comment connais-tu Anna ?
How do you know Anna?
Partner says: We met at university. I'm still finding my way around. Your goal: Is this your first time here?
Reveal a sample reply
C'est la première fois que tu viens ici ?
Is this your first time here?
Partner says: Yes, it's my first visit. Anna said she knows you. Your goal: I've heard a lot about you.
Reveal a sample reply
J'ai beaucoup entendu parler de toi.
I've heard a lot about you.
Partner says: That's nice! You look familiar, too. Your goal: Have we met before?
Reveal a sample reply
On s'est déjà rencontrés ?
Have we met before?
Make it your own
- Change where you met.
- Mention a different mutual friend.
- Discover you have met before.
Keep the useful expression and change the detail. There can be several appropriate answers; the revealed replies are examples to learn from.
This rehearsal in other languages
A note on speaking French
Use vous with strangers, staff, and people you address formally; use tu when that relationship is established. Je voudrais and pourriez-vous can make a request considerate. The most appropriate choice depends on the person and the situation.
Keep accents and apostrophes. A familiar spoken expression may differ from its literal English translation. Read the complete line, including the pronoun and the words that connect the request.
