Top 25 Common French Phrases for Daily Conversations

It feels like a significant achievement when you can use French phrases early in your language journey. Sure, practicing articles, adjectives, and prepositions is important, but why not impress your French friends, teacher, or language exchange partner with some fun and useful phrases for daily conversation?

Here are the top 25 common French phrases you need to know for daily conversations:

1. Bonjour ! – Hello! / Good morning!

“Bonjour” is a polite and widely-used greeting that works for most daytime situations. It’s essential to start conversations with a friendly “Bonjour!”

Dialogue:

• Marie : Bonjour, Paul ! Ça va ? (Hello, Paul! Are you doing well?)
• Paul : Bonjour, Marie ! Oui, ça va bien, et toi ? (Hello, Marie! Yes, I’m good, and you?)

2. Salut ! – Hi!

“Salut” is a more casual way to say “hi” or “bye” among friends and people you know well. It’s less formal than “Bonjour!”

Dialogue:

• Marie : Salut, ça va ? (Hi, how are you?)
• Luc : Salut, ça va bien, et toi ? (Hi, I’m good, and you?)

3. Comment ça va ? or Ça va ? – How’s it going?

This is a relaxed way of asking how someone is doing. You’ll hear this phrase often in informal settings.

Dialogue:

• Lisa : Salut, Tom ! Ça va ? (Hi, Tom! How’s it going?)
• Tom : Oui, ça va bien, et toi ? (Yes, I’m doing well, and you?)

4. Merci. – Thank you.

One of the most important phrases in any language! Be sure to say “merci” when someone helps or gives you something.

Dialogue:

• Luc : Merci pour ton aide ! (Thank you for your help!)
• Sophie : De rien ! C’était avec plaisir. (You’re welcome! It was my pleasure.)

Add “beaucoup” for extra emphasis when you want to show more gratitude.

Merci beaucoup. (Thank you very much.)

Curious how to make small talk in French like a native? Watch this video!

5. S’il vous plaît. – Please.

This polite phrase is necessary when making requests. Use it often to maintain good manners in French conversations.

Dialogue:

• Serveur : Vous désirez autre chose ? (Would you like anything else?)
• Client : Un café, s’il vous plaît. (A coffee, please.)

6. Excusez-moi. – Excuse me.

If you need someone’s attention, want to pass through a crowd, or need to apologize lightly, “excusez-moi” will come in handy.

Dialogue:

• Clara : Excusez-moi, vous savez où est la gare ? (Excuse me, do you know where the train station is?)
• Passant : Oui, c’est juste tout droit. (Yes, it’s straight ahead.)

7. De rien. – You’re welcome.

After someone says “merci,” the appropriate response is “de rien,” which means “it’s nothing” or “you’re welcome.”

Dialogue:

• Marie : Merci beaucoup pour ton aide avec le projet. (Thank you so much for your help with the project.)
• Paul : De rien, c’était un plaisir de t’aider. (You’re welcome, it was a pleasure to help you.)

8. Je m’appelle… – My name is…

Use this phrase when introducing yourself to someone new. For example: “Je m’appelle Marie.” means “My name is Marie.”

Dialogue:

• Jean : Comment tu t’appelles ? (What is your name?)
• Élise : Je m’appelle Élise, et toi ? (My name is Élise, and yours?)

9. Enchanté(e). – Nice to meet you.

After someone introduces themselves, you can say “Enchanté(e),” which means “pleased to meet you.”

Dialogue:

• Léa : Voici mon ami, Maxime. (Here’s my friend, Maxime.)
• Camille : Enchantée, Maxime ! (Nice to meet you, Maxime!)

10. Parlez-vous anglais ? – Do you speak English?

This is a polite way to ask if you’re in a French-speaking region but need help in English.

Dialogue:

• Touriste : Pardon, parlez-vous anglais ? (Excuse me, do you speak English?)
• Local : Oui, un petit peu. (Yes, a little bit.)

11. Je ne comprends pas. – I don’t understand.

If something is unclear, you can say, “Je ne comprends pas,” to let the other person know you’re having trouble understanding.

Dialogue:

• Touriste : Je ne comprends pas. Parlez-vous anglais ? (I don’t understand. Do you speak English?)
• Local : Bien sûr ! You need to turn left! (Of course! You need to turn left.)

12. Pouvez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît ? – Can you repeat, please?

This phrase is useful when you need someone to repeat what they said.

Dialogue:

• Passant : Vous devez tourner à gauche. (You must turn left.)
• Touriste : Pouvez-vous répéter plus lentement, s’il vous plaît ? (Could you repeat that more slowly, please?)
• Passant : Oui, vous devez tourner à gauche. (You must turn left.)

13. Où est… ? – Where is… ?

When you need directions, use “Où est” followed by the place you’re looking for. For example, “Où est la gare ?” means “Where is the train station?”

Dialogue:

• Touriste : Bonjour, excusez-moi, où est la boulangerie, s’il vous plaît ? (Hi, sorry, where is the bakery, please?)
• Local : Elle est au coin de la rue, à droite. (It’s on the corner of the street, on the right.)

14. Combien ça coûte or Combien coûte [+ the thing we are talking about] ? – How much does it cost?

When shopping or ordering at a restaurant, this phrase will help you ask for prices.

Dialogue:

• Client : Combien coûte cette écharpe ? / Combien ça coûte ? (How much does this scarf cost?/ How much is it? pointing at the scarf)
• Vendeur : Elle coûte 25 euros. (It costs 25 euros.)

15. À bientôt ! – See you soon!

Use this friendly phrase when saying goodbye, but expect to see the person again soon.

Dialogue:

• Clara : Merci pour le café, à bientôt ! (Thanks for the coffee, see you soon!)
• Tom : Oui, à très bientôt ! (Yes, see you very soon!)

16. Bonne journée ! – Have a good day!

You’ll often hear this at the end of interactions, whether you’re in a shop or saying goodbye to someone for the day.

Dialogue:

• Client : Merci pour votre aide ! (Thank you for your help!)
• Employé : De rien. Bonne journée ! (You’re welcome. Have a good day!)
• Client : Merci, à bientôt ! (Thanks, see you soon!)

17. Bonne soirée ! – Have a good evening!

Similar to “bonne journée,” it is used when parting ways in the evening.

Dialogue:

• Sophie : C’était sympa de te voir aujourd’hui ! (It was nice seeing you today!)
• Marc : Oui, on a passé un bon moment. (Yes, we had a great time.)
• Sophie : Je dois y aller maintenant. Bonne soirée ! (I have to go now. Have a good evening!)
• Marc : Merci, à toi aussi ! À bientôt! (Thanks, you too! See you soon!)

18. Je suis désolé(e). – I’m sorry.

This is the phrase to use when apologizing or expressing regret.

Dialogue:

• Sophie : Je suis désolée, je suis en retard. (I’m sorry, I’m late.)
• Alex : Ce n’est pas grave. (It’s not a big deal.)

19. Je voudrais… – I would like…

When ordering food or asking for something politely, say “je voudrais” followed by the item you want. For example: “Je voudrais un café, s’il vous plaît” means “I would like a coffee, please.”

Dialogue:

• Client : Je voudrais un café, s’il vous plaît. (I would like a coffee, please.)
• Serveur : Avec du lait et du sucre ? (With milk and sugar?)

20. Quelle heure est-il ? – What time is it?

If you need to know the time, use this phrase to ask politely.

Dialogue:

• Max : Excusez-moi, quelle heure est-il ? (Excuse me, what time is it?)
• Chloé : Il est 15 heures. (It’s 3 PM.)

21. Je suis fatigué(e). – I’m tired.

A very useful phrase to know since we experience fatigue on a regular basis.

Dialogue:

• Luc : On sort ce soir ? (Are we going out tonight?)
• Marie : Non, je suis trop fatiguée. (No, I’m too tired.)

22. C’est une bonne idée. – That’s a good idea.

This is a useful phrase for whenever someone makes a suggestion.

Dialogue:

• Paul : Si on allait au cinéma ce soir ? (How about going to the cinema tonight?)
• Julien : Oui, c’est une bonne idée ! (Yes, that’s a good idea!)

23. Je t’aime. – I love you.

A beautiful phrase to use with close loved ones, such as your partner or family.

Dialogue:

• Marie : Je t’aime. (I love you.)
• Paul : Moi aussi. (Me too.)

24. Pas de problème ! – No problem!

This is a casual phrase to let someone know that something isn’t an issue. It can also be used to say “you’re welcome” informally.

Dialogue:

• Luc : Je ne comprends pas, tu peux répéter plus lentement, s’il te plaît ? (I don’t understand. Can you repeat more slowly please?)
• Sophie : Pas de problème : Il est quinze heures ! (No problem! It’s 3pm.)

25. J’ai faim. – I’m hungry.

This is another phrase you are bound to use daily.

Dialogue:

• Léa : On mange quand ? (When are we eating?)
• Tom : Bientôt, j’ai faim aussi ! (Soon, I’m hungry too!)

Conclusion: Practice Makes Perfect

These 25 phrases will help you start everyday conversations in French. The more you practice and memorize them, the more confident you’ll feel using them in real-life situations.

Make sure to practice these phrases regularly in different contexts, and don’t hesitate to use them when chatting with friends, in language exchanges, or while traveling in French-speaking regions. Happy learning!