Over the years, I have had many opportunities to interact with French speaking friends and customers. Unfortunately, the only French lessons that I took was in high school and that was years ago. They say that you are never too old to learn so at 76 years old I have decided to learn to speak French.
Here’s a list of basic French sayings (common expressions and everyday phrases) that are useful for beginners. These go beyond single words to help you sound more natural in conversation:
Basic French Sayings & Expressions
| French Saying | English Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Bonjour ! | Hello! | bohn-zhoor |
| Salut ! | Hi! / Bye! (informal) | sah-loo |
| Bonsoir | Good evening | bohn-swahr |
| Bonne nuit | Good night | bun nwee |
| Comment ça va ? | How are you? | koh-mah(n) sah vah? |
| Ça va bien, merci. | I’m fine, thank you. | sah vah byeh(n), mehr-see |
| Et toi ? / Et vous ? | And you? (informal / formal) | ay twah / ay voo |
| S’il vous plaît | Please (formal) | seel voo pleh |
| Merci beaucoup | Thank you very much | mehr-see boh-koo |
| De rien | You’re welcome | duh ryah(n) |
| Excusez-moi | Excuse me | ex-kewz mwah |
| Je suis désolé(e) | I’m sorry | zhuh swee day-zo-lay |
| Je ne comprends pas | I don’t understand | zhuh nuh kom-prah(n) pah |
| Parlez-vous anglais ? | Do you speak English? | par-lay voo ah(n)-gleh? |
| Je m’appelle… | My name is… | zhuh mah-pell… |
| Où est… ? | Where is…? | oo eh…? |
| Je voudrais… | I would like… | zhuh voo-dray… |
| C’est combien ? | How much is it? | seh kohm-byen? |
| À bientôt ! | See you soon! | ah byeh(n)-toh! |
How to Learn French – A Step-by-Step Plan
1. Set Clear Goals
- Why do you want to learn French? (Travel, conversation, reading, etc.)
- Set specific goals:
Example: “Hold a 5-minute conversation in 3 months” or “Master 1000 words in 6 months.”
2. Start with the Basics
- Learn the alphabet and how to pronounce French sounds.
- Begin with essential phrases and vocabulary:
- Bonjour (Hello)
- Merci (Thank you)
- Comment ça va ? (How are you?)
- Je m’appelle… (My name is…)
3. Use Beginner-Friendly Tools
- Apps:
- Duolingo: Good for daily practice.
- Babbel: Structured lessons with grammar.
- Memrise: Great for vocab with native audio.
- Books:
- Easy French Step-by-Step (grammar + vocab)
- Practice Makes Perfect: Basic French
4. Listen and Speak Regularly
- Watch French shows/movies with subtitles (Netflix, YouTube, etc.).
- Listen to French music and podcasts (e.g., Coffee Break French).
- Speak aloud daily, even if you’re alone. Try apps like:
- HelloTalk or Tandem (connects you with native speakers)
- Speechling for pronunciation feedback
5. Learn Grammar and Sentence Structure
- Study the basic structure:
Subject + Verb + Object (Je mange une pomme = I eat an apple) - Master common verbs: être (to be), avoir (to have), aller (to go), faire (to do)
- Focus on present tense first, then gradually add past and future tenses.
6. Practice Writing
- Keep a simple French journal.
- Write basic sentences, then expand to short paragraphs.
- Try online exercises (e.g., Tex’s French Grammar, Lingolia).
7. Immerse Yourself
- Change your phone or browser settings to French.
- Label items in your house with French words.
- Follow French influencers or pages on social media.
8. Take a Class or Join a Group (Optional)
- Online French classes (Coursera, Udemy, or community colleges)
- Join language exchange meetups or online groups (e.g., Meetup, Reddit)
9. Stay Consistent
- 10–15 minutes daily is better than 1 hour once a week.
- Track your progress.
- Reward yourself for milestones.
Here’s a list of basic French sayings (common expressions and everyday phrases) that are useful for beginners. These go beyond single words to help you sound more natural in conversation:
?? Basic French Sayings & Expressions
| French Saying | English Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Bonjour ! | Hello! | bohn-zhoor |
| Salut ! | Hi! / Bye! (informal) | sah-loo |
| Bonsoir | Good evening | bohn-swahr |
| Bonne nuit | Good night | bun nwee |
| Comment ça va ? | How are you? | koh-mah(n) sah vah? |
| Ça va bien, merci. | I’m fine, thank you. | sah vah byeh(n), mehr-see |
| Et toi ? / Et vous ? | And you? (informal / formal) | ay twah / ay voo |
| S’il vous plaît | Please (formal) | seel voo pleh |
| Merci beaucoup | Thank you very much | mehr-see boh-koo |
| De rien | You’re welcome | duh ryah(n) |
| Excusez-moi | Excuse me | ex-kewz mwah |
| Je suis désolé(e) | I’m sorry | zhuh swee day-zo-lay |
| Je ne comprends pas | I don’t understand | zhuh nuh kom-prah(n) pah |
| Parlez-vous anglais ? | Do you speak English? | par-lay voo ah(n)-gleh? |
| Je m’appelle… | My name is… | zhuh mah-pell… |
| Où est… ? | Where is…? | oo eh…? |
| Je voudrais… | I would like… | zhuh voo-dray… |
| C’est combien ? | How much is it? | seh kohm-byen? |
| À bientôt ! | See you soon! | ah byeh(n)-toh! |