20 Essential French Phrases For Beginners

Are you ready to impress your friends with your French skills? We've got you covered with these 20 essential French phrases for beginners that will have you speaking like a true Parisian in no time. So, grab your croissant and let's dive in!

1. Bonjour ! - This is the most common way to greet someone in French. It means hello or good morning and is appropriate to use throughout the day.

2. Comment allez-vous ? - This phrase means How are you? and is a polite way to start a conversation with someone you don't know well.

3. Je m'appelle... - This means My name is... and is a great way to introduce yourself.

4. Enchanté(e) - This phrase means Nice to meet you and is a polite response to someone introducing themselves to you.

5. Merci - This means Thank you and is a crucial phrase to know when traveling or living in a French-speaking country.

6. S'il vous plaît - This means Please and is another important phrase to use when making requests or asking for something.

7. Excusez-moi - This phrase means Excuse me and can be used in various situations, such as when you need to get someone's attention or apologize for a mistake.

8. Je ne parle pas français - This phrase means I don't speak French and is a useful phrase to know if you're struggling to communicate in French.

9. Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement ? - This means Can you speak more slowly ? and is helpful if you're having trouble following a conversation.

10. Je suis désolé(e), je ne comprends pas - This phrase means I'm sorry, I don't understand and is another way to express that you're having trouble with the language.

11. Comment dit-on... en français ? - This means How do you say... in French? and is helpful when you're trying to learn new vocabulary.

12. Je voudrais... - This means I would like... and is used when ordering food or drinks.

13. L'addition, s'il vous plaît - This means The bill, please and is what you would say when you're ready to pay at a restaurant.

14. Où est...? - This phrase means Where is...? and is helpful when you're looking for a specific location.

15. Je suis perdu(e) - This means I'm lost and is useful when you're trying to find your way around a new city.

16. Je suis en retard - This means I'm late and is an excuse you can use if you're running behind schedule.

17. Quelle est la date d'aujourd'hui ? - This means What is today's date? and is helpful when filling out forms or making appointments.

18. À tout à l'heure - This means See you later and is a casual way to say goodbye to someone you'll be seeing again soon.

19. Bonne nuit - This means Goodnight and is what you would say before going to bed.

20. Au revoir - This means Good bye and is a polite way to say goodbye to someone you might not see for a while.

     

Congratulations, now you have 20 essential French phrases under your belt! With these phrases, you'll be able to navigate through France with ease and impress the locals with your language skills. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don't be afraid to use these phrases as often as you can.

And if you're feeling adventurous, why not try learning more French? There are plenty of resources out there to help you, such as our online French course. Who knows, you might even become fluent one day!

So, there you have it, the essential French phrases for beginners. We hope you found this post helpful and informative, and most importantly, entertaining. Bonne chance, and happy learning!