Meeting Someone New – Essential French Vocabulary
When travelling to France, why not take the opportunity to make new friends and learn to introduce yourself with confidence? Here, we share with you some essential words and phrases that will come in handy when making new acquaintances.
Remember, when meeting someone new, to always use the formal ''vous'' instead of the more informal ''tu,'' which is reserved for friends and people you know well. When addressing a stranger it can be considered odd or insulting.
Let's get started:
| |
Phrase in French |
Phrase in English |
Pronunciation |
|
Bonjour |
Hello/Good day |
Bon-zhoor |
|
Salut |
Hi (informal) |
Sah-lyoo |
|
Je m'appelle… |
My name is… |
Zhuh mah-pell… |
|
Comment allez-vous ? |
How are you? (formal) |
Com-ohn tah-lay voo ? |
|
Je vais bien. |
I am well. |
Zhuh vay bee-ahn. |
|
Merci. |
Thank you. |
Mehr-see. |
|
Enchanté(e). |
Pleased to meet you. |
En-shawn-tay. |
|
Au revoir. |
Goodbye. |
Oh ruh-vwar. |
|
De rien. |
You're welcome. |
Duh ree-ehn. |
|
Je suis désolé(é). |
I'm sorry. |
Zhuh swee day-zoh-lay. |
|
Où habitez-vous ? |
Where do you live? |
Ooh ah-bee-tay voo ? |
|
J'habite aux Etats Unis. |
I live in the United States. |
Zhah -beet oh zay-tat syoonee. |
|
J'aime la France ! |
I love France! |
Zhame lah Frawnse ! |
|
S'il vous plaît |
Please |
Sill voo play |
|
Excusez-moi./Excuse-moi. |
Excuse me. (Formal/Informal) |
Ex-kyoo-zay mwah. |
|
Est-ce que vous parlez anglais ? |
Do you speak English? |
Ess kuh voo parlay awng-lay ? |
|
D'où venez-vous ? |
Where are you from? |
Dooh vuh-nay voo ? |
|
Où travaillez-vous ? |
Where do you work? |
Ooh trah-vie-eh voo ? |
|
Je vous présente mon ami(e). |
This is my friend. |
Zhuh voo pray-zawnt mon ah-mee. |
|
Mon mari |
My husband |
Mohn mah-ree |
|
Ma femme |
My wife |
Mah fahm |
|
Petit-ami(e) |
Boyfriend/girlfriend |
Puh-teet ah-mee |
|
Comment vous appelez-vous ? |
What is your name? |
Com-ohn voo zah-puh-lay voo ? |
|
Monsieur |
Mister |
Muh-see-uh |
|
Madame/Mademoiselle |
Ms. (Older or married women, mademoiselle for unmarried females.) |
Mah-dahm/mahd-mwa-zelle |
|
Je me suis vraiment bien amusé(e). |
I had a wonderful time. |
Zhuh muh swee vray-mohn bee-ehn namyoozay. |
|
Êtes-vous sur Facebook ? |
Are you on Facebook? |
Et voo syur Facebook ? |
|
Quel est votre numéro de téléphone ? |
What is your phone number? |
Kell eh voh-truh new-meh-roe duh tay-lay-phone ? |
|
Bonne journée ! |
Have a good day! |
Bonn zhoor -nay ! |
|
À bientôt ! |
See you soon! |
Ahh bee-ehn toe ! |
Slang/Commonly Used Expressions
|
Expression in French |
Expression in English |
Pronunciation |
|
Quoi de neuf ? |
What's new?/What's up? (Informal) |
Kwah duh nuhf ? |
|
À plus ! |
Later, bye for now! (Informal), (When used as a text message, written as à +.) |
Ah ploos ! |
|
Ciao |
Bye |
Chow |
|
Santé ! |
Cheers! |
Sahn-tay ! |
|
Laissez-moi tranquille ! |
Leave me alone! |
Lay-say mwah trahn-keel ! |
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