How many French phrases do you know?

How many of them do you use often?

As much as your French vocabulary seems impressive, there are some phrases that are essential to know so that you can use them in everyday conversations.

Moreover, those phrases are easy to memorize because you can use them on different occasions, which helps you remember them faster.

Because of all that, we’ve gathered the most important French phrases you can use every day and in various situations.

Let’s get started with learning!

The 70 Most Common And Important French Phrases For Everyday Life

Wouldn't it be great if you have all these phrases in one place that you can take a look at whenever you want? Of course, those French tutors are some kind of portable dictionary but we are talking about something else, something you can take a peek at from your mobile device.

French Phrases for Starting a Conversation 

• Bonjour — Hello, Good day
• Bonsoir — Good evening
• Bienvenue- Welcome
• Ravi(e) de faire votre connaissance. — Happy to make your acquaintance.

When you meet someone for the first time, you can use this phrase, especially since it is polite, formal, and proper.

• Enchanté(e). — Charmed.

Unlike the previous phrase, this one is informal and kind-sweet. Depending on the gender, you use it with or without an extra ‘e.’

• Madame/Monsieur/Mademoiselle-  Mrs. /Mr. /Miss
• Pardon, excusez-moi.- Pardon, excuse me.
• Parlez-vous anglais?- Do you speak English?
• Je ne parle pas français.- I do not speak French.
• À tout à l’heure!- See you later!
• Merci/Merci beaucoup.- Thank you/Thank you very much.
• Au revoir!- Goodbye!
• De rien.- You’re welcome.

French Phrases For Getting Information And Help 

• Comment allez-vous ? / Comment ça va ? — How are you?

Literally, this phrase means ‘How’s it going?’ However, the first variant is more formal than the next one.

• Je vais bien, merci. — I’m doing well, thanks.
• Comment vous appelez-vous ? / Comment t’appelles-tu ? — What’s your name?

The first phrase is used in formal situations, while the second is used informally. You can see how the verb and the pronoun ‘tu’ and ‘vous’ are differently conjugated.

• Je m’appelle… — I am called… / My name is…
• D’où venez-vous ? / D’où viens-tu ? — Where are you from?
• Comment dire _____ en français ? — How do I say _____ in French?
• Je ne parle pas beaucoup le français. — I don’t speak a lot of French.
• Je ne parle qu’un peu français. — I only speak a little French.
• Pourriez-vous m’aider?- Can you help me?
• J’ai besoin d’aide. — I need help.
• Je me sens mal. — I don’t feel well.
• Au secours! — Help! (urgent)
• Je ne comprends pas.- I do not understand.
• Parlez lentement, s’il vous plaît.- Speak slowly, please.
• Répétez, s’il vous plait.- Repeat, please.

Asking For Directions And Accommodation 

• Où est un bon restaurant/un bon café?- Where is a good restaurant/a good café?
• Où est la plage/le centre-ville?- Where is the beach/city center?
• Où se trouve la banque ? — Where is the bank?

As you can see from this, and also the previous examples, the phrase ‘ou est’ and ‘ou se trouve’ is used when you want to ask ‘where is.’ After this part, you can add whichever noun you need to make a sentence.

• Je cherche le métro/le gare/l’aéroport.- I am searching for the metro/train station/airport.
• Je cherche l’hôtel/l’hôpital/la banque.- I am searching for a hotel/hospital/bank.
• Où est le guichet?- Where is the ticket window?
• Je voudrais regarder l’horaire.- I would like to look at the schedule.
• Je voudrais réserver un billet.- I would like to reserve a ticket.
• À quelle heure faut-il arriver?- What time should it arrive?
• Quelles chambres avez-vous de disponible?- What rooms do you have available?
•  Je voudrais une chambre pour deux.- I would like a room for two.
• Je voudrais annuler ma réservation.- I would like to cancel my reservation.
• À quelle heure est-ce qu’il faut régler la note?- At what time should we check out?

Let’s Go Shopping 

• Où sont les magasins?- Where are the shops?
• Où est le centre-commercial?- Where is the mall?
• Est-ce que je peux payer avec une carte de crédit?- Can I pay with a credit card?
• À quelle heure est-ce que s’est ouvert?- At what time is it open?
• Combien ça coûte?- How much does it cost?
• C’est trop cher!- It’s too expensive!
• Je ne connais pas ma taille. — I don’t know my size.

At The Restaurant 

• J’aimerais voir le menu. — I would like to see the menu.
•  Je voudrais un café.- I would like a coffee.
• Je voudrais de l’eau.- I would like some water.
• Je voudrais de la soupe. — I would like to have soup.

The phrase ‘je voudrais’ means ‘I would like’ and it can be used for any drink or meal. Just add the noun after the phrase.

• L’addition, s’il vous plaît.- The bill, please.

French Phrases For Keeping a Conversation Entertaining 

•  Comment va le travail ? — How’s work going?
• Tu veux prendre un verre ? — Do you want to get a drink?
• Comment va votre famille ? / Comment va ta famille ? — How’s your family?
• Tu peux me donner ton numéro ? — Can you give me your number?
• Passe-moi un coup de fil plus tard. — Give me a call later.
• J’aimerais te revoir. — I’d like to see you again.

Saying Goodbye

• Au revoir — Goodbye (somewhat formal)
• Salut — Goodbye (formal)
• Ciao — Goodbye (informal)
• À demain — See you tomorrow
• Bonne journée — Have a nice day
• Bonne soirée — Have a good evening
• À ce soir — See you tonight
• À tout à l’heure / À plus tard — See you later
• À bientôt — See you soon
• À la prochaine — Until next time
• Adieu — Goodbye (forever)

Final Thoughts

From meeting someone through asking for help, directions, accommodation, and going shopping to saying goodbye, here you have all the important French phrases that can ease your conversation with native speakers.

These phrases you can use over and over again, in as many different conversations as you want. They are also the basis of further learning, so just keep memorizing them on your own or with other French students, and the results will be apparent.

If you're interested in expanding your French vocabulary even further, you should try some of these cool options: Check out Babbel for fun, interactive lessons that fit into your day easily. If you want something more in-depth, there's a great French course on Udemy that covers everything from the basics to more advanced topics. And if you prefer learning with a personal touch, Lingoda offers classes with native speakers that can really help you practice speaking.

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What are the most important French phrases for starting a conversation?

Bonjour — Hello, Good day, Bonsoir — Good evening, Bienvenue- Welcome, Ravi(e) de faire votre connaissance. — Happy to make your acquaintance.

What are the most important French phrases for getting information and help?

Comment allez-vous ? / Comment ça va ? — How are you? Literally, this phrase means ‘How’s it going?’ However, the first variant is more formal than the next one. Je vais bien, merci. — I’m doing well, thanks. Comment vous appelez-vous ? / Comment t’appelles-tu ? — What’s your name? The first phrase is used in formal situations, while the second is used informally. You can see how the verb and the pronoun ‘tu’ and ‘vous’ are differently conjugated. Je m’appelle… — I am called… / My name is… D’où venez-vous ? / D’où viens-tu ? — Where are you from? Comment dire _____ en français ? — How do I say _____ in French? Je ne parle pas beaucoup le français. — I don’t speak a lot of French. Je ne parle qu’un peu français. — I only speak a little French. Pourriez-vous m’aider?- Can you help me?

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