Basic French Phrases
These are complete sentences, usable exactly as they are. They use the formal vous, which is the safe choice with anyone you have just met.
Introducing yourself
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Je m'appelle …
zhuh mah-PEL
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My name is …
Literally I call myself
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Comment vous appelez-vous ?
ko-MON voo zah-play VOO
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What is your name?
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Je viens de …
zhuh vyan duh
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I am from …
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Enchanté
on-shon-TAY
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Pleased to meet you
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J'apprends le français
zhah-PRON luh fron-SEH
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I am learning French
When you are stuck
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Je ne comprends pas
zhuh nuh kom-PRON pah
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I don't understand
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Parlez-vous anglais ?
par-lay voo on-GLEH
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Do you speak English?
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Pouvez-vous répéter ?
poo-vay voo ray-pay-TAY
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Could you repeat that?
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Plus lentement, s'il vous plaît
pluu lont-MON seel voo PLEH
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Slower, please
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Je ne sais pas
zhuh nuh seh pah
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I don't know
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Comment dit-on … en français ?
ko-MON dee-TON on fron-SEH
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How do you say … in French?
Out and about
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Où est … ?
oo eh
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Where is …?
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Où sont les toilettes ?
oo son lay twah-LET
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Where is the toilet?
Always plural in French
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Combien ça coûte ?
kom-BYAN sah KOOT
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How much is it?
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Je voudrais …
zhuh voo-DREH
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I would like …
The polite way to order
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L'addition, s'il vous plaît
lah-dee-SYON seel voo PLEH
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The bill, please
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Pouvez-vous m'aider ?
poo-vay voo may-DAY
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Can you help me?
Say bonjour first
None of these phrases should be the first thing out of your mouth. In France, a request that opens without bonjour reads as abrupt, however politely it is worded.
Bonjour, then the question, then merci. That order matters more than getting the grammar right.
To make these informal, swap vous for tu and drop the -ez ending: Parlez-vous becomes Tu parles, Pouvez-vous becomes Tu peux.
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