Common French Phrases – Everyday Expressions with Translation & Pronunciation

One thing I noticed when reviewing French after years of school learning: I had plenty of vocabulary but froze in real conversations because I didn’t have the right phrases ready. Individual words are not enough – French social interaction runs on fixed expressions that you need to have automatic. The phrases on this page are the ones that come up constantly, whether you’re travelling, meeting people, or just getting through a day in a French-speaking environment.

Each section below includes a short note on when to use formal vs. informal versions – something most phrase lists skip, but which matters a lot in French. The language has a hard distinction between tu (informal, used with friends, family, children) and vous (formal, used with strangers, colleagues, anyone you’d address with respect). Getting this wrong is not just awkward – it’s noticed.

Greetings in French

French greetings are more time-of-day specific than English ones. Bonjour covers everything until early evening; after that, bonsoir takes over. The informal Salut is the everyday equivalent of “hi” – fine with friends, wrong in a professional or formal context.

Asking how someone is – and answering

The standard Comment ça va ? is informal and used constantly between people who know each other. In a formal setting – meeting someone for the first time, speaking to a superior – use Comment allez-vous ? instead. The difference matters and native speakers notice.

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Saying goodbye in French

Au revoir is the standard farewell in any context. Salut doubles as both hello and goodbye in informal settings – the same way “ciao” works in Italian. À bientôt (see you soon) and À plus (shortened from À plus tard) are extremely common in casual speech.

Introducing yourself in French

French introductions follow a clear pattern. The tu/vous split applies here too: Comment tu t’appelles ? is for friends or children; Comment vous appelez-vous ? is for anyone you’re meeting formally. Using the wrong one comes across as either too familiar or unnecessarily stiff.

Do you speak English? – Language phrases

These are the phrases you’ll need when your French runs out. Knowing how to ask for help or explain your level is itself a useful skill – and French speakers generally appreciate the attempt to communicate in their language before switching.

Useful “I am…” phrases in French

A practical set of expressions built around je suis and j’ai. Note that French uses j’ai (I have) for hunger, thirst, and age – constructions that don’t translate directly from English and trip up learners consistently.

Apologising in French

There are two main ways to apologise in French: Pardon and Excusez-moi are used to get someone’s attention or for minor mishaps (bumping into someone, interrupting). Je suis désolé(e) is a genuine apology for something more significant. Using Pardon for a serious apology sounds dismissive; using Je suis désolé every time you pass someone in a corridor sounds overdramatic.

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Useful signs and notices in French

These are the words and phrases you’ll encounter on signs, in public spaces, and in written notices across France and other French-speaking countries. Worth knowing before you travel.

Numbers 1–25 in French

French numbers are mostly straightforward up to 16, then follow a pattern. The tricky part comes at 70 (soixante-dix = sixty-ten), 80 (quatre-vingts = four-twenties), and 90 (quatre-vingt-dix = four-twenty-ten). For the complete table up to 100 including the full explanation of the vigesimal system, see the French numbers 1 to 100 guide. For now, 1–25 covers most everyday situations.

Colours in French

One thing to know about French colours: they agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. Un chat noir (a black cat, masculine) but une voiture noire (a black car, feminine). The forms below are the base masculine forms.

Days of the week, months and seasons in French

Unlike English, days and months in French are not capitalised. lundi, not Lundi. A small detail that appears in writing constantly and marks the difference between someone who’s learned French properly and someone who’s just translated from English.

Want to go further with French?

These phrases are a solid starting point. To build the vocabulary and grammar that lets you use them naturally, the 17-Minute-Languages course is worth trying – 2 days free, no credit card:

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More on learning French:

• Learn French – All courses and resources overview
• Learn French with Mondly
• Learn French with Babbel
• French Numbers 1 to 100 – Complete Table & Vigesimal System
• Learning vocabulary successfully
• The different ways of learning languages

Sven Mancini
Published Language Author & Expert

Sven learned French from 7th grade through Abitur and has continued through self-study since. He speaks Norwegian at business level, Danish and Swedish conversationally, and French at B1. He is the author of four published vocabulary guides and has tested over 30 language courses and apps.

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