🇫🇷 French
Essential French phrases
The 30 phrases you'll use first — with pronunciation, the formal and informal versions, and what they really mean.
| English | French | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjour | bohn-ZHOOR |
| Goodbye | Au revoir | oh ruh-VWAHR |
| Thank you | Merci | mehr-SEE |
| Please | S'il vous plaît | seel voo PLEH |
| Sorry | Pardon | par-DOHN |
| Excuse me | Excusez-moi | ex-kew-zay MWAH |
| Yes | Oui | WEE |
| No | Non | NOHN |
| Good morning | Bonjour | bohn-ZHOOR |
| Good evening | Bonsoir | bohn-SWAHR |
| Good night | Bonne nuit | bun NWEE |
| How are you? | Comment allez-vous ? | koh-mahn tah-lay VOO |
| My name is… | Je m'appelle… | zhuh mah-PEL |
| Nice to meet you | Enchanté | ahn-shahn-TAY |
| I love you | Je t'aime | zhuh TEM |
| I miss you | Tu me manques | tew muh MAHNK |
| Happy birthday | Joyeux anniversaire | zhwah-yuh-zah-nee-vehr-SEHR |
| Cheers | Santé ! | sahn-TAY |
| Enjoy your meal | Bon appétit | boh-nah-pay-TEE |
| Welcome | Bienvenue | byan-vuh-NEW |
| Congratulations | Félicitations | fay-lee-see-tah-SYOHN |
| Happy New Year | Bonne année | bun ah-NAY |
| I don't understand | Je ne comprends pas | zhuh nuh kohm-prahn PAH |
| Do you speak English? | Parlez-vous anglais ? | par-lay voo ahn-GLEH |
| How much is it? | C'est combien ? | seh kohm-BYAN |
| Where is the toilet? | Où sont les toilettes ? | oo sohn lay twah-LET |
| Help! | Au secours ! | oh suh-KOOR |
| Beautiful | Beau / Belle | BOH / BEL |
| Friend | Ami / Amie | ah-MEE |
| See you later | À plus tard | ah plew TAR |
Next: the most common French words · how to learn French by reading