Basic French Words

From LoveToKnow French

You'll be well on your way to speaking French if you learn just a few basic French words and phrases.

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A List of the Most Commonly Used Basic French Words

Whether you're traveling or simply have a strong interest in the French language, learning the basics will help make getting around much easier.

Basic French Words for Tourists
WordTranslationPronunciation
Oui/NonYes/Nowhee/no
S'il vous plaîtPleasesee voo play
Parlez-vous anglais?Do you speak English?parlay voo ong-glay
MerciThank youmair-see
Here is/There isVoici/Voilàvwah-see/vwah-la
De rienYou're welcomedu-rhee-en
Je ne comprends pasI don't understandzhe nhe comp-rehn pah
J'ai besoin d'aideI need help.zhay buh-swahn deh led.
Excusez-moiExcuse meescoosay mwah
Je ne sais pasI don't knowzhe-nhe say paw
Il y aThere iseel ee aw

Greetings

Basic greetings in French are very simple. You should keep in mind that in French, there are formal and informal greetings. Formal greetings would be used wherever you might be shopping, with other adults you don't know, and always to those who are older. Informal greetings would be used with peers.

Formal Greetings
WordTranslationPronunciation
BonjourGood Morningbon zhoor
BonsoirGood Night/Eveningbon swar
Bon après-midiGood afternoonbon ah-pray mee-dee
Madame/MademoiselleMissmah-dahm/ma-dah-mwah-zell
MonsieurSirmihn-see-yuh
Comment allez-vous?How are you?co-mo-tal-lay-voo
Au revoirGood byeo-rhe-vwah


Informal Greetings
WordTranslationPronunciation
SalutHisaw-loo
Ça va?How's it going?saw-vaw
Ça va bienI'm finesaw-vaw-bee-en

Notes: Salut and ça va are often used together as in, "Salut! Ça va?"

Question Words

While traveling, you may find it very helpful to have a good command of basic question words and phrases.

Question Words
WordTranslationPronunciation
Combien?How much?comb-bee-en
Où?Where?oo
Quand?When?kond
Quelle/Quel/Quelles/Quels?What?kell
Pourquoi?Why?por-kwah
Comment?How?co mo

Other Basic Words in French

This is simply a collection of words and phrases that you may or may not have use for but are common knowledge for beginning French students.

Phrases with J'ai
WordTranslationPronunciation
J'ai faimI'm hungryzhay fam
J'ai soifI'm thirstyzhay swof
J'ai dix ansI am ten years oldzhay dees ong


I am Going to
WordTranslationPronunciation
à droiteto the right or on the rightah la dwaht
à gaucheto the left or on the leftoh go-sh
Je vais à la/auI am going tozhe vayz ah
au marchéthe marketluh bohn-mar-shay
au restaurantto the restaurantoh rest-o-rahn
à la plageto the beachah lah plaj
à l'hôtelto the hotelah lah o-tell
l'aéroportairportl'air-o-por
par avionby planepahr ah-vee-ohn
aux toilettesbathroomsal deh behn


Time and Money
WordTranslationPronunciation
Quelle heure est-il?What time is it?kell-er ay teel
Il est cinq heuresIt is five o'clockeel ay sank er
l'argentmoneylarzh-on
en retardlate or tardyon reh-tar
livrespoundslee-vreh

Some Other Resources for Basic French

A great place to start for learning French is right here at LoveToKnow. We have everything from resources for lessons to vocabulary lists. If you’re looking to purchase materials or looking for video, here are a few other resources.

  • The Everything Learning French Book offers a little more than just the basics but its clear and concise explanations on how to put sentences and phrases together makes this book a ‘must have’ if you’re trying to pick up some basic words.
  • This Basic French video has cute illustrations along with a native speaker to pronounce the words.
  • If you’re looking to travel with a dictionary, LaRousse is one of the best you can buy. It’s not expensive and while LaRousse publishes the full out thick dictionary, it also publishes smaller travel versions as well.
  • A website dedicated to offering simple lessons in a variety of European languages, this is a great place to start for brushing up or learning a few new phrases. This site seems to be geared towards those who are traveling in country.
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