Common French phrases - learn French!

In this French words and phrases section I have listed some current and common French phrases that are frequently used and heard(see list headings further down this page to access all the sections/phrases).

We have focussed on the words and phrases that you will hear and could use in everyday conversation in France, based on our own experiences of living in France. The section isn't a complete guide to learning French!

Before you start, here are some great phrases that are not so well known among non-French speakers...but used very commonly in French:

• 'ca se peut' - means 'that's possible' or 'that could be right'. Much more elegant than 'c'est possible'!
• 'ca m'étonnerait' - means 'I'd find that surprising' or 'That would surprise me'
• 'Je dois regagner mes pénates - means 'I must be getting home'  - much more French than 'je dois rentrer chez moi'
• One for the teenagers: 'bof' - means 'not much, not really' as an answer to a question.  eg 't'aimes cette chanson?'...'bof' ('do you like this song?'...'not much')

It is not true that all French people speak English. It is true that they often know more English than you realise. So no rude comments in English because no one can understand you, please (we often overhear such comments in our local bar).

An effort to speak some French is worth the trouble, even if you think you sound terrible or find it embarrassing, can only say set phrases, and know that you won't understand the answer.

I haven't (yet) listed every word that you will need in a restaurant, supermarket etc because you will have a phrase book / dictionary already. Similarly there is no lesson in verb conjugation.

The section has the following pages:

Common phrases / French English phrases / Useful phrases / English - French phrases / Basic French Phrases

 

See also these extensive resources for learning French from about.com