If you are starting French from zero, A1 vocabulary is the perfect place to begin. 

At the A1 level, you do not need rare or complicated words. You need simple, useful vocabulary that helps you introduce yourself, ask basic questions, talk about your family, order food, describe your day, and understand everyday situations.

In this guide, you will learn the most important French A1 vocabulary by category, with English translations and simple example sentences.

This list is designed for complete beginners who want to build a strong base in French.

Let’s begin.

What Is A1 French Vocabulary?

A1 is the beginner level in French. At this level, you learn the words and phrases you need for simple everyday communication.

A1 French vocabulary usually includes topics like:

Greetings and polite words

Introducing yourself

Numbers

Days and months

Family

Food and drinks

Places in town

Basic verbs

Common adjectives

Question words

Daily routine

Weather

Travel basics

At A1, your goal is not to speak perfectly. Your goal is to understand and use simple French in common situations.

For example:

Bonjour, je m’appelle Emma.
Hello, my name is Emma.

J’habite à Londres.
I live in London.

Je voudrais un café, s’il vous plaît.
I would like a coffee, please.

Où est la gare ?
Where is the train station?

These are simple sentences, but they are very useful.

1. French A1 Greetings and Polite Words

These are the first words every French beginner should know. You will use them all the time in conversations, shops, restaurants, classes, and emails.

1. Bonjour = Hello, good morning
2. Salut = Hi, bye
3. Bonsoir = Good evening
4. Bonne nuit = Good night
5. Au revoir = Goodbye
6. À bientôt = See you soon
7. À demain = See you tomorrow
8. Merci = Thank you
9. Merci beaucoup = Thank you very much
10. De rien = You’re welcome
11. S’il vous plaît = Please, formal
12. S’il te plaît = Please, informal
13. Pardon = Sorry, excuse me
14. Excusez-moi = Excuse me, formal
15. D’accord = Okay, agreed

Examples:

Bonjour, madame.
Hello, madam.

Merci beaucoup !
Thank you very much!

Excusez-moi, où est la gare ?
Excuse me, where is the train station?

D’accord, à demain.
Okay, see you tomorrow.

2. French A1 Phrases to Introduce Yourself

Introducing yourself is one of the most important A1 skills. These phrases help you say your name, where you are from, where you live, and what you do.

16. Je m’appelle... = My name is...
17. Moi, c’est... = I’m..., casual
18. Je suis... = I am...
19. J’ai... ans = I am... years old
20. Je viens de... = I come from...
21. J’habite à... = I live in...
22. Je suis étudiant = I am a student, said by a man
23. Je suis étudiante = I am a student, said by a woman
24. Je travaille = I work
25. J’apprends le français = I am learning French

Examples:

Je m’appelle Clara.
My name is Clara.

J’ai vingt-cinq ans.
I am twenty-five years old.

Je viens du Canada.
I come from Canada.

J’habite à Paris.
I live in Paris.

J’apprends le français.
I am learning French.

A quick note: in French, you use avoir to talk about age.

Say:

J’ai trente ans.
I am thirty years old.

Not:

Je suis trente ans.

3. French A1 Subject Pronouns

Subject pronouns are words like “I,” “you,” “he,” and “she.” You need them to build basic sentences.

26. Je = I
27. Tu = You, informal
28. Il = He, it
29. Elle = She, it
30. On = We, people in general
31. Nous = We
32. Vous = You, formal or plural
33. Ils = They, masculine or mixed group
34. Elles = They, feminine only

Examples:

Je parle français.
I speak French.

Tu habites ici ?
Do you live here?

Elle est française.
She is French.

Nous sommes étudiants.
We are students.

Vous comprenez ?
Do you understand?

In everyday spoken French, on is often used instead of nous.

On va au restaurant.
We are going to the restaurant.

4. French A1 Question Words

Question words help you ask for basic information. They are essential for conversations.

35. Qui ? = Who?
36. Que ? = What?
37. Quoi ? = What?
38. Où ? = Where?
39. Quand ? = When?
40. Pourquoi ? = Why?
41. Comment ? = How?
42. Combien ? = How much? How many?
43. Quel ? = Which? What?

Examples:

Qui est-ce ?
Who is it?

Où est le restaurant ?
Where is the restaurant?

Comment ça va ?
How are you?

Combien ça coûte ?
How much does it cost?

Pourquoi tu apprends le français ?
Why are you learning French?

5. French A1 Numbers

Numbers are essential at the A1 level. You need them for age, prices, dates, phone numbers, addresses, and time.

44. Un = One
45. Deux = Two
46. Trois = Three
47. Quatre = Four
48. Cinq = Five
49. Six = Six
50. Sept = Seven
51. Huit = Eight
52. Neuf = Nine
53. Dix = Ten
54. Onze = Eleven
55. Douze = Twelve
56. Treize = Thirteen
57. Quatorze = Fourteen
58. Quinze = Fifteen
59. Seize = Sixteen
60. Vingt = Twenty
61. Trente = Thirty
62. Quarante = Forty
63. Cinquante = Fifty
64. Cent = One hundred

Examples:

J’ai deux frères.
I have two brothers.

Elle a trente ans.
She is thirty years old.

Ça coûte quinze euros.
It costs fifteen euros.

Il est huit heures.
It is eight o’clock.

6. French A1 Days, Months, and Time Words

These words help you talk about your schedule, plans, and daily life.

65. Aujourd’hui = Today
66. Demain = Tomorrow
67. Hier = Yesterday
68. Maintenant = Now
69. Le matin = The morning
70. L’après-midi = The afternoon
71. Le soir = The evening
72. La nuit = The night
73. Une heure = An hour, one o’clock
74. Une minute = A minute
75. Lundi = Monday
76. Mardi = Tuesday
77. Mercredi = Wednesday
78. Jeudi = Thursday
79. Vendredi = Friday
80. Samedi = Saturday
81. Dimanche = Sunday
82. Janvier = January
83. Février = February
84. Mars = March
85. Avril = April
86. Mai = May
87. Juin = June
88. Juillet = July
89. Août = August
90. Septembre = September
91. Octobre = October
92. Novembre = November
93. Décembre = December

Examples:

Aujourd’hui, je travaille.
Today, I am working.

Demain, je vais à Paris.
Tomorrow, I am going to Paris.

Mon anniversaire est en avril.
My birthday is in April.

Le cours est lundi.
The class is on Monday.

7. French A1 Family Vocabulary

Family is a very common A1 topic. You may need these words to introduce your family or talk about people in your life.

94. La famille = Family
95. La mère = Mother
96. Le père = Father
97. Les parents = Parents
98. Le frère = Brother
99. La sœur = Sister
100. Le fils = Son
101. La fille = Daughter, girl
102. L’enfant = Child
103. Les enfants = Children
104. Le mari = Husband
105. La femme = Wife, woman
106. Le grand-père = Grandfather
107. La grand-mère = Grandmother
108. Le cousin = Male cousin
109. La cousine = Female cousin

Examples:

J’ai une sœur.
I have a sister.

Mon père habite en France.
My father lives in France.

Elle a deux enfants.
She has two children.

Ma famille est grande.
My family is big.

8. French A1 Food and Drink Vocabulary

Food vocabulary is useful very quickly, especially if you travel, go to a restaurant, or shop in French.

110. L’eau = Water
111. Le café = Coffee
112. Le thé = Tea
113. Le lait = Milk
114. Le jus = Juice
115. Le pain = Bread
116. Le fromage = Cheese
117. Le beurre = Butter
118. La viande = Meat
119. Le poisson = Fish
120. Le poulet = Chicken
121. Le riz = Rice
122. Les pâtes = Pasta
123. La soupe = Soup
124. La salade = Salad
125. Le fruit = Fruit
126. La pomme = Apple
127. La banane = Banana
128. Le dessert = Dessert
129. Le chocolat = Chocolate

Examples:

Je voudrais de l’eau.
I would like some water.

J’aime le fromage.
I like cheese.

Je mange une pomme.
I am eating an apple.

Elle boit du thé.
She is drinking tea.

9. French A1 Places in Town

These words help you understand signs, ask for directions, and talk about where you are going.

130. La maison = House
131. L’école = School
132. Le travail = Work
133. La ville = City, town
134. La rue = Street
135. Le restaurant = Restaurant
136. Le café = Café
137. Le magasin = Store
138. Le supermarché = Supermarket
139. La boulangerie = Bakery
140. La pharmacie = Pharmacy
141. La banque = Bank
142. La poste = Post office
143. L’hôpital = Hospital
144. La gare = Train station
145. L’aéroport = Airport
146. L’hôtel = Hotel
147. Le parc = Park

Examples:

Je vais à la boulangerie.
I am going to the bakery.

Où est la pharmacie ?
Where is the pharmacy?

Nous sommes à l’hôtel.
We are at the hotel.

La gare est près du restaurant.
The train station is near the restaurant.

10. French A1 Transportation Vocabulary

Transportation vocabulary is very useful for travel and everyday life.

148. La voiture = Car
149. Le bus = Bus
150. Le train = Train
151. Le métro = Subway
152. Le taxi = Taxi
153. Le vélo = Bike
154. L’avion = Plane
155. Le billet = Ticket
156. La carte = Card, map
157. Le passeport = Passport
158. La valise = Suitcase
159. Le départ = Departure
160. L’arrivée = Arrival

Examples:

Je prends le train.
I am taking the train.

Elle va au travail en bus.
She goes to work by bus.

J’ai un billet.
I have a ticket.

Où est mon passeport ?
Where is my passport?

11. French A1 Home Vocabulary

These words help you describe your house or apartment.

161. L’appartement = Apartment
162. La maison = House
163. La chambre = Bedroom
164. La cuisine = Kitchen
165. La salle de bains = Bathroom
166. Le salon = Living room
167. La porte = Door
168. La fenêtre = Window
169. La table = Table
170. La chaise = Chair
171. Le lit = Bed
172. Le canapé = Sofa
173. La clé = Key
174. Le jardin = Garden

Examples:

Ma chambre est petite.
My bedroom is small.

La cuisine est grande.
The kitchen is big.

Les clés sont sur la table.
The keys are on the table.

J’habite dans un appartement.
I live in an apartment.

12. French A1 Clothing Vocabulary

Clothing is another common beginner topic.

175. Un vêtement = A piece of clothing
176. Une chemise = A shirt
177. Un pantalon = Pants
178. Une robe = A dress
179. Une jupe = A skirt
180. Un manteau = A coat
181. Une veste = A jacket
182. Un pull = A sweater
183. Un tee-shirt = A T-shirt
184. Des chaussures = Shoes
185. Des chaussettes = Socks
186. Un chapeau = A hat

Examples:

Je porte une robe.
I am wearing a dress.

Il porte un pantalon noir.
He is wearing black pants.

J’achète des chaussures.
I am buying shoes.

13. French A1 Colors

Colors are useful when describing objects, clothes, places, and people.

187. Blanc = White
188. Noir = Black
189. Rouge = Red
190. Bleu = Blue
191. Vert = Green
192. Jaune = Yellow
193. Orange = Orange
194. Rose = Pink
195. Violet = Purple
196. Gris = Gray
197. Marron = Brown

Examples:

J’ai une voiture rouge.
I have a red car.

Elle porte une robe bleue.
She is wearing a blue dress.

Le chat est noir.
The cat is black.

A quick note: many colors change depending on the noun.

Un sac vert = a green bag
Une voiture verte = a green car

But some colors, like orange and marron, usually do not change.

14. French A1 Common Adjectives

Adjectives help you describe people, objects, and places.

198. Bon = Good
199. Mauvais = Bad
200. Grand = Big, tall
201. Petit = Small, short
202. Beau = Beautiful, handsome
203. Joli = Pretty
204. Nouveau = New
205. Vieux = Old
206. Jeune = Young
207. Facile = Easy
208. Difficile = Difficult
209. Important = Important
210. Fatigué = Tired
211. Content = Happy
212. Triste = Sad

Examples:

C’est facile.
It is easy.

Je suis fatigué.
I am tired, said by a man.

Je suis fatiguée.
I am tired, said by a woman.

C’est une bonne idée.
It is a good idea.

Elle a une petite maison.
She has a small house.

15. French A1 Basic Verbs

Verbs help you create real sentences. These are some of the most important A1 French verbs.

213. Être = To be
214. Avoir = To have
215. Aller = To go
216. Faire = To do, to make
217. Parler = To speak
218. Aimer = To like, to love
219. Habiter = To live
220. Manger = To eat
221. Boire = To drink
222. Prendre = To take
223. Vouloir = To want
224. Pouvoir = Can, to be able to
225. Savoir = To know
226. Comprendre = To understand
227. Lire = To read
228. Écrire = To write
229. Regarder = To watch, to look at
230. Écouter = To listen to
231. Acheter = To buy
232. Travailler = To work

Examples:

Je suis débutant.
I am a beginner, said by a man.

J’ai une question.
I have a question.

Je vais à l’école.
I am going to school.

Je parle français.
I speak French.

Je veux apprendre.
I want to learn.

Je comprends.
I understand.

16. French A1 Daily Routine Vocabulary

Daily routine vocabulary helps you talk about your day in simple French.

233. Se lever = To get up
234. Se réveiller = To wake up
235. Se préparer = To get ready
236. Prendre le petit-déjeuner = To have breakfast
237. Aller au travail = To go to work
238. Aller à l’école = To go to school
239. Déjeuner = To have lunch
240. Dîner = To have dinner
241. Rentrer à la maison = To go home
242. Se coucher = To go to bed

Examples:

Je me lève à sept heures.
I get up at seven o’clock.

Je prends le petit-déjeuner.
I have breakfast.

Elle va au travail.
She goes to work.

Je me couche à dix heures.
I go to bed at ten o’clock.

17. French A1 Weather Vocabulary

Weather is a very common conversation topic at A1 level.

243. Il fait beau = The weather is nice
244. Il fait chaud = It is hot
245. Il fait froid = It is cold
246. Il pleut = It is raining
247. Il neige = It is snowing
248. Il y a du soleil = It is sunny
249. Il y a du vent = It is windy
250. Le temps = The weather, time
251. La pluie = Rain
252. La neige = Snow
253. Le soleil = Sun

Examples:

Il fait beau aujourd’hui.
The weather is nice today.

Il pleut ce matin.
It is raining this morning.

Il fait froid en hiver.
It is cold in winter.

Il y a du soleil.
It is sunny.

18. French A1 Useful Prepositions

Prepositions are small words, but they are very important.

254. À = To, at, in
255. De = From, of
256. Dans = In
257. Sur = On
258. Sous = Under
259. Avec = With
260. Sans = Without
261. Pour = For
262. Chez = At someone’s house, at someone’s place
263. Devant = In front of
264. Derrière = Behind
265. Entre = Between

Examples:

Je vais à Paris.
I am going to Paris.

Je viens de France.
I come from France.

Le livre est sur la table.
The book is on the table.

Je vais chez Marie.
I am going to Marie’s house.

19. French A1 Useful Expressions

These expressions are short, simple, and very useful in real conversations.

266. Ça va ? = How are you?
267. Ça va bien. = I’m doing well.
268. Comme ci, comme ça. = So-so.
269. Je ne comprends pas. = I do not understand.
270. Je ne sais pas. = I do not know.
271. Je suis désolé. = I am sorry, said by a man.
272. Je suis désolée. = I am sorry, said by a woman.
273. Pas de problème. = No problem.
274. Ce n’est pas grave. = It is not a big deal.
275. Répétez, s’il vous plaît. = Repeat, please.
276. Parlez plus lentement, s’il vous plaît. = Speak more slowly, please.
277. J’ai une question. = I have a question.
278. Je voudrais... = I would like...
279. Il y a... = There is, there are...
280. C’est combien ? = How much is it?

Examples:

Je ne comprends pas.
I do not understand.

Répétez, s’il vous plaît.
Repeat, please.

Je voudrais un café.
I would like a coffee.

C’est combien ?
How much is it?

How Many Words Should You Know at A1 in French?

There is no perfect number, but a strong A1 learner usually knows enough words to handle simple everyday situations.

Instead of focusing only on the number of words, focus on what you can do with them.

At A1, you should be able to:

Introduce yourself

Talk about your family

Say where you live

Describe simple objects

Ask basic questions

Order food and drinks

Understand numbers, dates, and prices

Talk about your daily routine

Use basic verbs in simple sentences

Ask for help when you do not understand

For example, knowing pain means “bread” is helpful, but knowing how to say je voudrais du pain is even better.

Vocabulary becomes useful when you can use it in a sentence.

How to Study French A1 Vocabulary

The best way to study A1 vocabulary is to learn words by theme and use them in context.

Do not only memorize:

café = coffee

Practice:

Je voudrais un café, s’il vous plaît.
I would like a coffee, please.

Do not only memorize:

gare = train station

Practice:

Où est la gare ?
Where is the train station?

Do not only memorize:

fatigué = tired

Practice:

Je suis fatigué.
I am tired, said by a man.

Je suis fatiguée.
I am tired, said by a woman.

A simple study routine could look like this:

Choose 10 words from one category.

Read them out loud.

Listen to the pronunciation if possible.

Write one sentence with each word.

Review the same words the next day.

Use the words in a short conversation or paragraph.

This is much more effective than reading a long list once.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make With French Vocabulary

Learning Words Without Articles

French nouns have gender, so it is best to learn nouns with un, une, le, or la.

Instead of learning:

maison = house

Learn:

une maison = a house

Instead of learning:

livre = book

Learn:

un livre = a book

This will help you remember gender more naturally.

Translating Everything Word for Word

French and English do not always use the same structure.

For example, in English you say:

I am hungry.

In French, you say:

J’ai faim.

Literally, this means “I have hunger.”

Another example:

I am 30 years old.

In French:

J’ai 30 ans.

Not:

Je suis 30 ans.

Trying to Learn Too Many Words at Once

It is better to learn 10 useful words and actually remember them than to read 100 words and forget most of them.

Start small. Repeat often. Use the words in real sentences.

Ignoring Pronunciation

French words do not always sound the way they look.

For example:

beaucoup = a lot
The final p is silent.

vous = you
The final s is silent.

petit = small
The final t is silent.

Say new words out loud from the beginning. This will help you recognize them when you hear native speakers.

Simple A1 French Vocabulary Practice

Try translating these sentences into French.

1. Hello, my name is Anna.
2. I am twenty years old.
3. I live in Paris.
4. I have a sister.
5. I would like water, please.
6. Where is the train station?
7. I am going to school.
8. I do not understand.
9. It is cold today.
10. I am learning French.

Answers:

1. Bonjour, je m’appelle Anna.
2. J’ai vingt ans.
3. J’habite à Paris.
4. J’ai une sœur.
5. Je voudrais de l’eau, s’il vous plaît.
6. Où est la gare ?
7. Je vais à l’école.
8. Je ne comprends pas.
9. Il fait froid aujourd’hui.
10. J’apprends le français.

A Simple A1 Self-Introduction Using This Vocabulary

Here is a short example using A1 vocabulary:

Bonjour, je m’appelle Laura. J’ai vingt-huit ans. Je viens des États-Unis et j’habite à New York. Je suis étudiante et j’apprends le français. J’ai une sœur et un frère. J’aime le café, la musique et les voyages. Aujourd’hui, il fait beau. Enchantée !

Translation:

Hello, my name is Laura. I am twenty-eight years old. I come from the United States and I live in New York. I am a student and I am learning French. I have one sister and one brother. I like coffee, music, and travel. Today, the weather is nice. Nice to meet you!

This is exactly the kind of simple French you want to build at A1 level.

Keep Building Your A1 French Vocabulary

French A1 vocabulary gives you the foundation you need for simple conversations.

Start with the most useful topics: greetings, introductions, numbers, family, food, places, daily routine, weather, and basic verbs. Then practice using those words in short sentences.

The goal is not to memorize every word in French. The goal is to recognize and use the words that appear most often in everyday situations.

With regular practice, these beginner words will start to feel natural, and you will be ready to move on to longer sentences and A2 vocabulary.