20 Essential French Words and Phrases to Impress Native Speakers33

Learning a new language can be a daunting task, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. One of the best ways to impress native speakers is to learn some of their everyday words and phrases. This can help you to connect with them on a deeper level and show that you are interested in their culture.

In this article, we will share 20 essential French words and phrases that you can use to impress native speakers. We will also provide you with some tips on how to pronounce them correctly.

1. Bonjour (Hello)

This is the most common way to greet someone in French. It is pronounced "bon-zhoor".

2. Merci (Thank you)

This is how you say "thank you" in French. It is pronounced "mehr-see".

3. S'il vous plaît (Please)

This is a polite way to ask for something in French. It is pronounced "see voo play".

4. Excusez-moi (Excuse me)

This is how you say "excuse me" in French. It is pronounced "ex-kew-zay mwah".

5. Je ne comprends pas (I don't understand)

This is a useful phrase to know if you are having trouble understanding something in French. It is pronounced "zhuh nuh kohm-prah pah".

6. Parlez-vous anglais ? (Do you speak English?)

This is a helpful phrase to know if you need to ask for help in English. It is pronounced "par-lay voo ahn-glay".

7. Où sont les toilettes ? (Where are the toilets?)

This is a question that you may need to ask at some point during your travels. It is pronounced "oo soh lee twah-let".

8. Je m'appelle (My name is)

This is how you introduce yourself in French. It is pronounced "zhuh mah-pel".

9. Enchanté (Nice to meet you)

This is a polite way to say "nice to meet you" in French. It is pronounced "ahn-shahn-tay".

10. Comment ça va ? (How are you?)

This is a common way to ask someone how they are doing in French. It is pronounced "koh-moh sah vah".

11. Ça va bien (I'm fine)

This is a common response to the question "How are you?" in French. It is pronounced "sah vah bee-en".

12. Et vous ? (And you?)

This is a polite way to ask someone how they are doing in French. It is pronounced "ay voo".

13. Je suis désolé (I'm sorry)

This is a useful phrase to know if you need to apologize for something in French. It is pronounced "zhuh swee day-zoh-lay".

14. De rien (You're welcome)

This is a polite way to say "you're welcome" in French. It is pronounced "duh ree-en".

15. Au revoir (Goodbye)

This is the most common way to say goodbye in French. It is pronounced "oh-r-vwar".

16. Bonne journée (Have a good day)

This is a polite way to say "have a good day" in French. It is pronounced "bon-nuh zhoor-nay".

17. Bonne soirée (Have a good evening)

This is a polite way to say "have a good evening" in French. It is pronounced "bon-nuh swa-ray".

18. À bientôt (See you soon)

This is a common way to say "see you soon" in French. It is pronounced "ah bee-en-toh".

19. Merci beaucoup (Thank you very much)

This is a more formal way to say "thank you" in French. It is pronounced "mehr-see bo-koo".

20. Bon appétit (Enjoy your meal)

This is a common phrase to say before eating a meal in French. It is pronounced "bon ah-pay-tee".