Top 50 phrases to get by France: Essential communication
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Key Phrases
Bonjour
Hello/Good morning
Merci
Thank you
Au secours!
Help!
Skills You'll Learn
Basic greetings
Salutations de base
Expressing gratitude
Exprimer la gratitude
Asking for help
Demander de l'aide
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
Bonjour
bohn-zhoor
Hello/Good morning
💬 Use it anytime during the day till the evening.
🇫🇷 A smile goes well with 'Bonjour' in France!
See breakdown →Merci
mehr-see
Thank you
💬 Sounds like 'meh-see' and is polite to use often.
🇫🇷 Gratitude is important. Use 'Merci' generously!
See breakdown →De rien
duh ryan
You're welcome
💬 Literally means 'of nothing'!
🇫🇷 Respond to a 'Merci' with 'De rien' to sound polite.
See breakdown →Pardon
pahr-dohn
Sorry/Excuse me
💬 Not just for apologies, say it if you bump into someone.
🇫🇷 Manners matter in France, use 'Pardon' to gracefully excuse yourself.
See breakdown →Au revoir
oh ruh-vwahr
Goodbye
💬 Pronounced 'oh reh-vwar'.
🇫🇷 A charming way to bid farewell until next time.
See breakdown →Oui
wee
Yes
💬 Pronounced like 'wee', fun and easy!
🇫🇷 Nod your head slightly for added emphasis.
See breakdown →Non
noh
No
💬 Simple, like the English 'no'.
🇫🇷 Shaking your head makes this more effective.
See breakdown →S'il vous plaît
seel eel voo pleh
Please
💬 Literally means 'if it pleases you'.
🇫🇷 A crucial part of polite exchanges in France.
See breakdown →Je ne comprends pas
zhuh nuh kohm-prond pah
I don't understand
💬 Helpful when you're lost in translation.
🇫🇷 Use it to encourage a slower rephrased explanation.
See breakdown →Learn this vocabulary list the easy way
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