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French vocabulary · Topic 1 of 10

Greetings & Essentials in French

In France, bonjour is more than hello: people say it when they walk into a shop, a bakery, or a waiting room. These 100 words and phrases cover greetings, polite words, and the question words that keep a conversation going. Phrases use the friendly tu form, with the polite vous form shown where it changes.

Entries
100
Full guides
100

Showing all 100 entries in rank order.

  1. 1Hellointerjectionbonjourinformal: salut
  2. 2Thank youphrasemerci
  3. 3Goodbyeinterjectionau revoir
  4. 4Pleaseadverbs'il te plaîtformal: s'il vous plaît
  5. 5Yesinterjectionoui
  6. 6Nointerjectionnon
  7. 7Good morningphrasebonjour
  8. 8Good nightphrasebonne nuit
  9. 9How are you?phraseComment ça va ?formal: Comment allez-vous ?
  10. 10I'm sorryphraseje suis désolé(e)
  11. 11You're welcomephrasede rien
  12. 12Excuse mephraseexcusez-moi
  13. 13Good afternoonphrasebonjourwhen leaving: bon après-midi
  14. 14Good eveningphrasebonsoir
  15. 15Nice to meet youphraseenchanté(e)
  16. 16My name is…phraseje m'appelle…
  17. 17What's your name?phraseTu t'appelles comment ?formal: Comment vous appelez-vous ?
  18. 18I'm fine, thanksphraseça va bien, merci
  19. 19See you laterphraseà plus tardinformal: à plus
  20. 20See you tomorrowphraseà demain
  21. 21See you soonphraseà bientôt
  22. 22I love youphraseje t'aime
  23. 23Thank you very muchphrasemerci beaucoup
  24. 24No, thank youphrasenon, merci
  25. 25What?pronounquoi ?polite: pardon ?
  26. 26Where?adverboù ?
  27. 27When?adverbquand ?
  28. 28Why?adverbpourquoi ?
  29. 29How?adverbcomment ?
  30. 30Who?pronounqui ?
  31. 31How much?phrasecombien ?
  32. 32Which?pronounquel ? / quelle ?
  33. 33I don't understandphraseje ne comprends pas
  34. 34Do you speak English?phraseTu parles anglais ?formal: Vous parlez anglais ?
  35. 35Can you repeat that, please?phraseTu peux répéter, s'il te plaît ?formal: Vous pouvez répéter, s'il vous plaît ?
  36. 36More slowly, pleasephraseplus lentement, s'il vous plaît
  37. 37I don't knowphraseje ne sais pas
  38. 38How do you say…?phraseComment dit-on… ?
  39. 39What does this mean?phraseQu'est-ce que ça veut dire ?
  40. 40I speak a little (Italian, Hindi…)phraseje parle un peu français
  41. 41Okayinterjectiond'accord
  42. 42Of coursephrasebien sûr
  43. 43Maybeadverbpeut-être
  44. 44No problemphrasepas de problème
  45. 45Welcome!interjectionbienvenue
  46. 46Congratulations!interjectionfélicitations
  47. 47Happy birthday!phrasejoyeux anniversaire
  48. 48Good luck!phrasebonne chance
  49. 49Cheers!interjectionsanté ! / à la tienne !
  50. 50Have a nice dayphrasebonne journée
  51. 51Take carephraseprends soin de toi
  52. 52Where are you from?phraseTu viens d'où ?formal: D'où venez-vous ?
  53. 53I'm from…phraseje viens de…
  54. 54How old are you?phraseTu as quel âge ?formal: Quel âge avez-vous ?
  55. 55Ipronounjestressed: moi
  56. 56Youpronountuformal or plural: vous
  57. 57Hepronounil
  58. 58Shepronounelle
  59. 59Wepronounnousspoken: on
  60. 60Theypronounilsall female: elles
  61. 61Andconjunctionet
  62. 62Orconjunctionou
  63. 63Butconjunctionmais
  64. 64Becauseconjunctionparce que
  65. 65Withprepositionavec
  66. 66Withoutprepositionsans
  67. 67Hereadverbici
  68. 68Thereadverblà / là-bas
  69. 69Thispronounçabefore a noun: ce/cette
  70. 70Thatpronounça / celabefore a noun: ce/cette … -là
  71. 71Veryadverbtrès
  72. 72Alsoadverbaussi
  73. 73Onlyadverbseulement
  74. 74Notadverbne… pas
  75. 75Nothingpronounrien
  76. 76Help!interjectionau secours !
  77. 77One moment, pleasephraseun instant, s'il vous plaît
  78. 78Well done!interjectionbravo ! / bien joué !
  79. 79Bless you! (after a sneeze)phraseà tes souhaits !formal: à vos souhaits !
  80. 80Happy New Year!phrasebonne année !
  81. 81Merry Christmas!phrasejoyeux Noël !
  82. 82Get well soonphrasebon rétablissement
  83. 83Have a good tripphrasebon voyage
  84. 84Sweet dreamsphrasefais de beaux rêves
  85. 85Long time no seephraseça fait longtemps !
  86. 86I miss youphrasetu me manques
  87. 87Let's go!phraseallons-y ! / on y va !
  88. 88Really?adverbvraiment ?
  89. 89I agreephraseje suis d'accord
  90. 90That's rightphrasec'est ça ! / exactement
  91. 91Come in!phraseentrez !informal: entre !
  92. 92What's up?phrasequoi de neuf ?
  93. 93It doesn't matterphrasece n'est pas grave / peu importe
  94. 94Have fun!phraseamuse-toi bien !
  95. 95I have a questionphrasej'ai une question
  96. 96What happened?phrasequ'est-ce qui s'est passé ?
  97. 97Don't worryphrasene t'inquiète pasformal: ne vous inquiétez pas
  98. 98Be careful!phrasefais attention !
  99. 99Have a good weekendphrasebon week-end
  100. 100Hurry up!phrasedépêche-toi !

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Meet someone new at a café in Paris

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Greetings & Essentials in other languages

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FAQ

Greetings & Essentials in French: common questions

When do I use tu and when vous?

Use tu with friends, family, children, and people your age in relaxed settings. Use vous with strangers, shop staff, older people, and at work until someone suggests tu. Vous is also the plural "you" for any group.

How do I say please in French?

Say s'il te plaît to someone you call tu, and s'il vous plaît to someone you call vous. In shops, cafés, and restaurants, s'il vous plaît is the safe choice.

What is the difference between bonjour and bonsoir?

Bonjour is for the daytime and bonsoir is for the evening, both when you arrive and when you leave. To wish someone good night before bed, say bonne nuit.

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