😊

How to Say ‘It was a real pleasure’ in French

C'était un vrai plaisir

say ay-TAY uhn vray pleh-ZEER

[say ay-TAY uhn vray pleh-ZEER]

Phrase Breakdown

C'était

say ay-TAY

It was

Imperfect of être used to describe a past situation or feeling.

Example

C'était agréable de vous parler.

It was nice to talk to you.

Words in this phrase

[say]

it was

Shortened form meaning 'it was,' often used to open a warm follow-up message.

Example

C' était un vrai plaisir de vous rencontrer au forum.

It was a real pleasure to meet you at the forum.

était

[ay-TAY]

was

Past form of 'être' used here to describe a previous experience.

Example

C'était un vrai plaisir d'échanger avec vous hier.

It was a real pleasure to speak with you yesterday.

Un vrai plaisir

uhn vray pleh-ZEER

A real pleasure

A polite phrase expressing genuine enjoyment or appreciation.

Example

Un vrai plaisir de faire votre connaissance.

A real pleasure to meet you.

Words in this phrase

[uhn]

Indefinite article before a masculine singular noun.

Example

C'était un vrai plaisir de faire votre connaissance.

It was a real pleasure to make your acquaintance.

vrai

[vray]

real

Adds emphasis to show that the feeling was sincere.

Example

C'était un vrai plaisir de discuter de votre entreprise.

It was a real pleasure to discuss your company.

plaisir

[pleh-ZEER]

pleasure

Used in polite expressions to say you appreciated an interaction.

Example

C'était un vrai plaisir après cet événement professionnel.

It was a real pleasure after this professional event.

Guides for French learners

Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant lessons were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”

Tom H., 38, Chef

“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”

Nina W., 29, Graduate Student

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer