Basic French Phrases with Pronunciation for Easy Communication

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When you’re visiting France, or anywhere in the world, it’s always a good choice to learn some of the words and common expressions for local communication and a smooth experience. Also, it’ll help you to blend in with the locals, especially if you’re stuck in an emergency.

In this article, we’ll provide a list of basic French words and expressions to enhance your travel experience. So, whether you’re wandering through Parisian streets or exploring the vineyards of Bordeaux, this linguistic toolkit will enrich your journey.

So, bear with us and learn some basic French phrases with pronunciation for your next trip to France!

Essential Greetings and Common French Expressions

There are plenty of words and phrases in French for greetings and common expressions. But don’t get overwhelmed, as we’ll start with the basic ones you need to get by –

• Bonjour (bohn-zhoor) – “Hello” or “Good morning”
• Bonsoir (bohn-swahr) – “Good evening”
• Bon après-midi (bohn ah-preh-mee-dee) – “Good afternoon.”
• Bonne nuit (bun nwee) – “Good night”
• Mademoiselle (mad·e·moi·selle) – “Ms. / Unmarried French Women”
• Madame (ma-damm) – “Mrs.”
• Monsieur (Mooh-siur) – “Mr.”
• Salut (sah-loo) – “Hi” (informal)
• Coucou (koo-KOO) – “Hey”
• Allô (ah-LOH) – “Hello” (answering the phone)
• Excusez-moi (ehk-skew-zay mwah) – “Excuse me / Sorry” 
• Oui! (oh-yi) – “Yes!”
• Non (noh) – “No”
• Merci (mehr-see) – “Thank you.”
• Merci beaucoup (mur-SEcourse.KOO) – “Thank you very much”
• Acclamations! (ak-lah-me-sionh) – “Cheers!”
• Voilà (voo-e-lah) – ”There you go / That’s it / So!”
• Bien (jyan) – “Good / Alright /Fine / Ok”
• Très bien (tray-b-jyan) – “Very good”
• S’il vous plaît (seel voo pleh) – “Please”
• Bien sûr (byehn sur) – “Of course”
• Au revoir (oh ruh-vwahr) – “Goodbye”
• Bonne journée (bohn zhur-nay) – “Have a nice day.”
• Bonne soirée (bohn swahr-nay) – “Have a nice evening.”
• Bienvenue (byan-veh-nu) – “Welcome”
• Pas de quoi (pah-de-kwah) – “You’re welcome
• De rien (du-hyan) – “You’re welcome / It’s nothing / Don’t mention it”
• Je vous en prie (je-vous-ohn-pre) – “You’re welcome / After you / Go ahead”
• Allons-y! (alohn-jyih) – “Let’s go”
• A plus tard (ah plu tarkh) – “See you later”
• A bientôt (a biyan toh) – “See you soon.”
• À demain (a doh ma) – “See you tomorrow.”
• Mal (mahl) – “Bad”
• Pas mal (pa-mahl) – “Not bad!”
• Merde (meherd) – “Damn it! / Shit!”

This list of common expressions will do much if you want to get by and blend in with the locals.

French Way of Introductions

Now, if you want to introduce yourself or someone asks you for your introduction or where you come from, it’s good to know some words and phrases to avoid awkward moments. They are as follows –

• Je m’appelle… (zhuh mah-pel) – “My name is…
• Enchanté(e) (ahn-shan-tay) – “Nice to meet you.”
• Ça va bien, merci (sah vah byan, mehr-see) – “I’m fine, thank you.”
• Voici… (vwah-see) – “This is…”
• et tu e? (et-chu-e) – “And you are?”
• Vous êtes d’où? (voos-et-du) – “Where are you from? (formal)”
• Tu es d’où? (chu-e-du) – “Where are you from? (informal)”
• Je suis désolé(e) (zhuh swee day-zoh-lay) – “I am sorry.”
• Pardon! (Pah-don) – “Excuse me! (pushing through a crowd) / Sorry! (stepped on someone’s foot)”
• Je ne comprends pas (zhuh nuh kohm-prahnd pah) – “I don’t understand.”
• Je ne parle pas Francais (zhe ne parl pah frahn-say) – “I don’t speak French.”
• Parlez-vous Anglais? (pahr-lay voo ahn-glay) – “Do you speak English?”

Basic Questions in French & Asking for Clarifications

Moving on to the next criteria, which are common questions and asking for clarifications in French –

• Quand ? (kahn) – “When?”
• Pourquoi ? (poor-kwah) – “Why?”
• Qui ? (kee) – “Who?”
• Comment ? (koh-mahn) – “How?”
• Où? (Oo) – “Where? / Or?”
• Comment allez-vous? (koh-mahn tah-lay voo) or ça va? (koh-mahn sah vah?) – “How are you?”
• Qui es-tu? (khi-et-chu) – “Who are you?”
• Pourriez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît? (puir-ay voo reh-peh-teh, seel voo pleh) – “Could you repeat that please?”
• Pourriez-vous parler plus lentement (puir-yay voo par-lay plu lontamon, seel voo pleh) – “Could you speak more slowly please?”

French Months and Days of the Week

Before you get around in France, make sure to learn the names of the months and weekdays in French.

The days in the weeks in French are –

• Lundi (luhN-dee) – “Monday”
• Mardi (mahr-dee) – “Tuesday”
• Mercredi (mehr-kruh-dee) – “Wednesday”
• Jeudi (zhuh-dee) – “Thursday”
• Vendredi (vahN-druh-dee) – “Friday”
• Samedi (sahm-e-dee) – “Saturday”
• Dimanche (dee-mauhNsh) – “Sunday”

And the names of the months are –

• Janvier (zhahN-vyey) – “January”
• Février (fey-vry-ey) – “February”
• Mars (mahrs) – “March”
• Avril (ah-vreel) – “April”
• Mai (meh) – “May”
• Juin (zhwahN) – “June”
• Juillet (zhwee-yeh) – “July”
• Août (ooht) – “August”
• Septembre (sehp-tahmN-bruh) – “September”
• Octobre (ohk-toh-bruh) – “October”
• Novembre (noh-vahmN-bruh) – “November”
• Décembre (dey-sahmN-bruh) – “December”

Getting Around, Direction & Transportation

So, it’s time now to use basic words and phrases to ask for directions and transportation –

• Où se trouve (ooh-se-thouve) / Où est (oo-eh) – “Where is…?”
• Gauche (goosh) – “Left”
• Droitee (dhroait) – “Right”
• Direct (dee-rec) – “Straight”
• En haut (a-ou) – “Up”
• En bas (ohn-baa) – “Down / Downstair / Downward”
• Dos (du-uh) – “Back”
• La traîne (la thrain) – “The train”
• Le bus (lu boos) – “The bus”
• Le car (lu cahr) – “The car”
• Ou est la gare (oo-eh-la-gahr) – “Where is the train station?”
• Où est la station de métro (oo ay lah stah-syon duh meh-tro) – “Where is the subway station”
• L’aeroport (l-aero-po) – “The airport”
• Où est l’aéroport (oo-eh-l-aero-po) – “Where is the airport?”
• Un billet pour…, s’il vous plaît (uhn bee-yay poor…, seel voo pleh) – “A ticket to…, please”
• Où sont les toilettes? (ooh-son le twa-let) – “Where are the toilets?”
• Je suis perdu (zhou-sou peher-dou) – “I am lost”
• Je cherche la gare / l’arrêt de bus (zhuh shairsh lah gahr / lahr-ray duh boos) – “I am looking for the train station / bus stop”
• Pouvez-vous m’indiquer le chemin pour… ? (poo-vay voo man-dee-kay luh shuh-mahn poor) – “Can you tell me the way to…?”

Be aware of your surroundings and belongings when in France. Other than that, you can enjoy a scenic drive around France or take public transport from Paris to the South of France, or to the heart of the French Riviera’s Nice, or the wine country of Bordeaux. Anywhere you prefer, it’s your choice.

French Numbers & Colors

Numbers are essential, especially when shopping or telling time. Here’s a quick rundown –

• Un (uhn) – 1 
• Deux (du-eh) – 2 
• Trois (twah) – 3 
• Quatre (kyahtr) – 4 
• Cinq (sank) – 5 
• Six (sees) – 6
• Sept (set) – 7 
• Huit (o-wheet) – 8 
• Neuf (nuhf) – 9 
• Dix (dees) – 10 
• Vingt (vahnt) – 20 
• Trente (tront) – 30
• Quarante (kah-ront) – 40 
• Cinquante (san-kont) – 50 
• Soixante (swah-sont) – 60 
• Soixante-dix (swah-sont dees) – 70 
• Quatre-vingts (kahtr-e-vahnt) – 80 
• Quatre-vingt-dix (kahtr-e-vahnt-dees) – 90 
• Cent (sohn) – 100 
• Deux cents (du-eh-sohn) – 200 
• Trois cents (twah-sohn) – 300
• Quatre cents (kyahtr-eh-sohn) – 400
• Cinq cents (sank-sohn) – 500 
• Mille (meel-eh) – 1000  
• Deux mille (du-meel) – 2000

Now, let’s see the words for some colors to brighten your vocabulary –

• Rouge (roozh) – “Red”
• Bleu “Masculine” / Bleue “Feminine” (bluh) – “Blue”
• Verte “Feminine” (vair-th) / Vert “Masculine” (vair) – “Green”
• Jaune (zhoun-e) – “Yellow”
• Noire “Feminine”/ Noir “Masculine” (nwahr) – “Black”
• Blanc “Masculine” (blohn) / Blanche “Feminine” (blohnsh) – “White”
• Violette “Feminine” (viou-lett) / Violet “Masculine” (viou-leh) – “Violet”
• Pâle (pah-le) – “Pale”

Dining & Ordering in French Eateries

You’re getting there, as now we’ll help you order something at a French restaurant or cafe. First, let’s get to know some common names of food and beverages in French, and then we’ll take you to the ordering process.

Let’s start with the basic food names that you’ll find in France on your trip –

• La pommes de terre (la pom du teakh) – “Potato”
• Le porc (luh pohkh) – “Pork”
• Le poulet (lu poo-leh) – “Chicken”
• Le bœuf (luh beuph) – “Beef”
• Les légumes (leh leh-guh-m) – “Vegetables”
• Les fruits (leh froo-ee) – “Fruits”
• Le fromage (luh froh-mazh) – “Cheese”
• Le pain (luh pahn) – “Bread”

Next, the common words for deserts in France are –

• Le dessert (luh deh-seh) – “Dessert”
• Le gâteau (luh gah-toh) – “Cake”
• Le mille-feuille (luh meel-fai) – “Mille-feuille”
• Le crème brûlée (luh krehm broo-lay) – “Crème brûlée”
• Le tarte (luh tahrt) – “Tart”
• Le macaron (luh mah-kah-rohn) – “Macaron”
• Le madeleine (luh mah-duh-lehn) – “Madeleine”
• Le croissant (luh kroh-ei-sohn) – “Croissant”

Then, come the words for different French beverages –

• L’eau (looh) – “Water”
• Le café (luh kah-fay) – “Coffee”
• Le thé (luh teh) – “Tea”
• Le jus (luh zhoo) – “Juice”
• Le soda (luh soh-dah) – “Soda”
• Le vin (luh vahn) – “Wine”
• Vin rouge (vahn-roozh) – “Red wine”
• Vin blanc (vahn blohnk) – “White wine”
• Vin mousseux (vahn moos-eh) – “Sparkling wine”
• Le bière (luh bee-ehr) – “Beer”
• Le champagne (luh shahm-pah-nyay) – “Champagne”

So, once you get the food and beverage names right, let’s move on to the ordering & take-out procedure in a French cafe or restaurant –

• J’aurai (zhu-gheh) – “I’ll have…”
• Nous aurons (no-oos-zhou-hon) – “We’ll have”
• As-tu…? (atch-u) / Avez-vous…? (a-veh-voo) – “Do you have…?”
• C’est délicieux! (say day-lee-syuh) – “It’s delicious!”
• Je prendre (zhuh pohn-dre-eh) – “I will take”
• Je voudrais réserver une table pour deux, s’il vous plaît (zhuh voo-dray ruh-zair-vay uhn tahbl poor duh, seel voo pleh) – “I would like to reserve a table for two, please”
• Encore une minute, s’il vous plaît (ohn-korh un meen-uit, seel voo pleh) – “One more minute, please.”
• Avez-vous un menu en anglais ? (ah-vay voo uhn muh-nyu ahn ahn-glay) – “Do you have a menu in English?”
• Que recommandez-vous? (khu-eh rekomohnd-e-vooh) – “What do you recommend?”
• Quelle est la spécialité du jour? (khe-lehl-ast specalite du-zhou) – “What is today’s special?”
• Je voudrais un café (zheh voo-dray un kah-fay) – “I would like a coffee.”
• Un café au lait (an kah-fay oh lay) – “Coffee with milk”
• Un café crème (an kah-fay krehm) – “Coffee with cream”
• J’aimerais de l’eau (zhe-eh-may-reh doh-loo) – “I would like some water”
• Un café avec un dessert, s’il vous plaît (an kah-fay avek ung de-searh, see voo play) – “A coffee with dessert, please”
• C’est terminé (say teh-ree-meh) – “I/We have finished.”
• L’addition (lah-di-shyon) / L’addition, S’il vous plaît (lah-di-shyon, seel voo pleh) – “The bill / The check / The bill please.”

As you’re learning more words, it’ll be easy to blend in. So, make sure to take a wine tour in Southern France for the dreamiest trip of your life, with world-famous wines paired with local delicacies.

French Words & Phrases for Shopping

Shopping in France is a complete joy. However, to make it even better, you must know some handy words and phrases associated with shopping.

We’ll start with the names of basic clothing & jewelry items –

• Vêtements (vuh-teh-mohn) – “Clothes”
• Chemise (shuh-meez) – “Shirt”
• Pantalon (pahn-tayh-lohn) – “Pants”
• Robe (rohb) – “Dress”
• Chapeau (shah-poh) – “Hat”
• Casquette (kas-ki-eth) – “Cap”
• Manteau (mahn-toh) – “Coat”
• Chaussettes (cshoh-set) – “Socks”
• Chaussures (shou-siour) – “Shoes”
• Des sandales (de sondal) – “Sandals”
• Ceinture (syhn-tur) – “Belt”
• Gants (gahN) – “Gloves”
• Foulard (foo-larh) / Echarpe (eh-shahrp) – “Scarf”
• Jupe (zho-oup) – “Skirt”
• Accessoires (ahk-ses-oh-arh) – “Accessories”
• Bijoux (be-zhou) – “Jewelery”
• Sac (sai-kh) – “Bag”
• Montre (mohn-truh) – “Watch”
• Boucles d’oreilles (boo-kluh duh-ohk-raih) – “Earrings”

Moving on to the shopping procedure now –

• Je recherche (zhou rou-shyarsh) – “I’m looking for…”
• Je voudrais acheter… (zhuh voo-dray ash-tay) – “I would like to buy…”
• Où est le marché? (oo eh luh mar-shay?) – “Where is the market?”
• Non merci, je regarde juste (no meyrsi, zhou regarde zhoust) – “No thanks, I’m just looking.”
• Puis-je essayer cela ? (pwee zhuh es-say-yay suh-lah) – “Can I try this on?”
• Combien ça coûte? (kom-biyan sai-kuith) – “How much does it cost?”
• J’aimerais les acheter (zhei-ma-rei les asheteh) – “I’d like to purchase these.”
• Puis-je payer en espèces ou à crédit? (pwee-zh pah-yeh on espes ou a kredih) – “Can I pay cash or credit?”
• Un reçu, s’il vous plaît (uhn ruh-syoo, seel voo pleh) – “A receipt, please.”

With these words and phrases, you can easily shop for luxury to affordable clothes around Paris or anywhere in France, be it unique things and souvenirs or discount shopping items.

French Phrases for Emergencies & Assistance

You’re all done by now and doing great. Just a few more words and phrases in case you have an emergency and need assistance, be it from the police or locals –

• Aide (a-ede) / Au secours! (oh suh-koor!) – “Help!”
• Appelez une ambulance! (ah-peh-lay oon ahm-byoo-lahns!) – “Call an ambulance!”
• Appelez la police (ah-peh-lay la police) – “Call the police.”
• J’ai eu un accident (Zhe-ou un eksi-don) – “I had an accident.”
• je me suis fait agresser (Zhou mu sou fair agresse) – “I got mugged.”
• Je suis blessé (zhou-sou blisse) – “I’m hurt / I’m injured.”
• Je suis gravement blessé (zhou-sou ghravmon blisse) – “I’m hurt badly.”
• J’ai besoin d’un docteur (zhay buh-zwahn dun dok-tur) – “I need a doctor.”
• Où est la pharmacie? (oo eh lah far-mah-see?) – “Where is the pharmacy?”
• Où est l’hôpital? (ou-el opital) – “Where is the hospital?”

You’re all set for your next trip to France. Even if you’re a first-timer in Paris or anywhere in France, this cheat sheet will help you get by easily. Also, make sure to know the French driving rules and laws to reduce any chance of emergencies.

Final Thoughts

With these above-mentioned basic French phrases and their pronunciations, you’re well on your way to feeling more confident and connected during your French adventures.

So, make the habit of practicing regularly, and soon you’ll find yourself engaging in conversations, ordering delicious French cuisine, and traveling through the beautiful landscapes of France with ease.

Bon voyage!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)