Useful French phrases

A collection of useful phrases in French. Click on the English phrases to see them in many other languages.

Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).

English français (French)
Welcome Bienvenue Click here to hear this phrase
Hello Salut, Bonjour Click here to hear this phrase
Allô? Click here to hear this phrase (on phone)
How are you?

I'm fine, thanks. And you?
Ça va? Comment ça va?
Comment allez-vous? Click here to hear this phrase
Ça va bien, merci. Et toi/vous? Click here to hear this phrase
Long time no see Ça fait longtemps ! Click here to hear this phrase Ça fait longtemps qu'on s'est pas vu ! Click here to hear this phrase
What's your name?



My name is ...
Comment est-ce que vous vous appelez ? Click here to hear this phrase
Comment vous appelez-vous ? Click here to hear this phrase (frm/pl)
Comment t'appelles-tu ? Click here to hear this phrase Comment tu t'appelles ? Click here to hear this phrase (inf/sg)
Je m'appelle ... Click here to hear this phrase
Where are you from?


I'm from ...
D'où êtes-vous ? Click here to hear this phrase D'où venez-vous ? Click here to hear this phrase (frm)
Tu viens d'où ? Click here to hear this phrase Tu es d'où ? Click here to hear this phrase (inf)
Je viens de ... Click here to hear this phrase Je suis de ... Click here to hear this phrase
Pleased to meet you Enchanté(e), Je suis enchanté(e) Click here to hear this phrase
Good morning Bonjour Click here to hear this phrase
Good afternoon Bonjour Click here to hear this phrase Bon après-midi Click here to hear this phrase
Good evening Bonsoir Click here to hear this phrase
Good night Bonne nuit Click here to hear this phrase
Goodbye Au revoir, À bientôt Click here to hear this phrase
Good luck Bonne chance ! Click here to hear this phrase
Cheers/Good health! Santé ! À votre santé ! Click here to hear this phrase
Have a nice day Bonne journée ! Click here to hear this phrase
Bon appetit Bon appétit ! Click here to hear this phrase
Bon voyage Bon voyage ! Click here to hear this phrase
I don't understand Je ne comprends pas Click here to hear this phrase
Please speak more slowly Est-ce que vous pourriez parler plus lentement, s'il vous plaît? Click here to hear this phrase
Please say that again Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ? Click here to hear this phrase
Pourriez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ? Click here to hear this phrase
Please write it down Pourriez-vous me l'écrire ? Click here to hear this phrase (frm)
Pourriez-vous me l'écrire, s'il vous plait ? Click here to hear this phrase (frm)
Auriez-vous l'obligeance de me l'écrire, s'il vous plait ? Click here to hear this phrase (vfrm)
Do you speak French?





Yes, a little
Vous parlez français? Click here to hear this phrase Parlez-vous français? Click here to hear this phrase
Est ce-que vous parlez français? Click here to hear this phrase (frm)
Tu parles français? Click here to hear this phrase Parles-tu français? Click here to hear this phrase
Est ce-que tu parles français? Click here to hear this phrase (inf)
Oui, un peu Click here to hear this phrase Oui, un petit peu Click here to hear this phrase
Excuse me Excusez-moi ! Pardon ! Pardonnez-moi ! Click here to hear this phrase
How much is this? C'est combien? Click here to hear this phrase
Sorry Désolé ! Je suis désolé ! Excusez-moi ! Je m'excuse !
Pardon ! Oh, pardon, excusez-moi ! Je vous demande pardon Click here to hear this phrase
Thank you


Response (You're welcome)
Merci, Merci beaucoup Click here to hear this phrase
De rien, Il n'y a pas de quoi, Je vous en prie Click here to hear this phrase
Avec plaisir, À votre service Click here to hear this phrase
Where's the toilet? Où sont les toilettes ? Click here to hear this phrase
This gentleman/lady
will pay for everything
Ce monsieur / cette dame va tout payer Click here to hear this phrase
Would you like to
dance with me?
Voudriez-vous danser avec moi? Click here to hear this phrase
I love you Je t'aime, Je t'adore Click here to hear this phrase
Get well soon Remets-toi vite Click here to hear this phrase Guéris vite Click here to hear this phrase Soigne-toi bien Click here to hear this phrase
Bon rétablissement Click here to hear this phrase Prompt rétablissement Click here to hear this phrase
J'espère que tu iras mieux très vite Click here to hear this phrase
Je vous souhaite un prompt rétablissement Click here to hear this phrase
How do you say ... in French? Comment dit-on ... en français ? Click here to hear this phrase
Leave me alone! Laisse-moi tranquille ! Click here to hear this phrase (inf) Laissez-moi tranquille ! Click here to hear this phrase (frm)
Help!
Fire!
Stop!
Au secours ! À l'aide ! Click here to hear this phrase
Au feu ! Click here to hear this phrase
Arrêtez ! Click here to hear this phrase
Call the police! Appelle la police ! Click here to hear this phrase (inf) Appelez la police ! Click here to hear this phrase (frm)
Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year
Joyeux Noël et bonne année Click here to hear this phrase
Happy Easter Joyeuses Pâques Click here to hear this phrase
Happy Birthday Joyeux anniversaire Click here to hear this phrase Bon anniversaire Click here to hear this phrase
Bonne fête Click here to hear this phrase (in Quebec)
One language is never enough une seule langue n'est jamais suffisante Click here to hear this phrase
My hovercraft is full of eels Mon aéroglisseur est plein d'anguilles Click here to hear this phrase

All the sound files on this page were recorded by Jean-marie Cletz of Onlinelearners.

Download all the audio files (Zip format, 1MB)

If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, please contact me.

Information about written and spoken French

books   Language learning materials for French

Links

Collections of French phrases (some with audio)
http://www.single-serving.com/French/
http://www.smartphrase.com/French/fr_general_words_phr.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2465435
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/language/french-phrases.html

Phrases in related languages

Catalan, French, Friulian, Italian, Jèrriais, Latin, Occitan, Portuguese (Brazlian), Portuguese (European), Romanian, Spanish

Phrases in other languages

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