Getting Started with Essential French Vocabulary
When you begin learning French, focusing on high-frequency words and everyday phrases is the fastest way to start communicating. This guide gathers the most useful beginner vocabulary, grouped by situation, with French examples and clear English translations.
1. Basic Greetings and Polite Phrases
Everyday Greetings
These are the first phrases you will use in almost every French conversation.
- Bonjour – Hello / Good morning
- Bonsoir – Good evening
- Salut – Hi / Bye (informal)
- Au revoir – Goodbye
- À bientôt – See you soon
- À demain – See you tomorrow
Politeness Essentials
French culture places a lot of importance on politeness, especially bonjour and merci.
- S’il vous plaît – Please (formal)
- S’il te plaît – Please (informal)
- Merci – Thank you
- Merci beaucoup – Thank you very much
- De rien – You’re welcome
- Pardon – Sorry / Excuse me (to get attention or after a small mistake)
- Excusez-moi – Excuse me (formal)
- Excuse-moi – Excuse me (informal)
Example Mini-Dialogues
Example 1:
Bonjour, excusez-moi, où sont les toilettes ?
Hello, excuse me, where is the bathroom?
Les toilettes sont là -bas. De rien.
The bathroom is over there. You’re welcome.
Example 2:
Salut ! À bientôt !
Hi! See you soon!
2. Introducing Yourself
Key Identity Phrases
Use these to say who you are and ask about others.
- Je m’appelle... – My name is...
- Comment tu t’appelles ? – What’s your name? (informal)
- Comment vous appelez-vous ? – What’s your name? (formal)
- Je suis... – I am...
- Enchanté / Enchantée – Nice to meet you (masculine / feminine)
- Je viens de... – I come from...
- Je suis américain(e) – I am American (add e if you are female)
- J’habite à ... – I live in...
Example Sentences
Je m’appelle Anna. Je viens de Londres et j’habite à Paris.
My name is Anna. I come from London and I live in Paris.
Bonjour, je suis Marco, enchanté.
Hello, I am Marco, nice to meet you.
3. Common Question Words
Question words help you understand and ask for information.
- Qui – Who
- Quoi – What (usually after a verb)
- Que / Qu’ – What (before a verb)
- Où – Where
- Quand – When
- Pourquoi – Why
- Comment – How
- Combien – How much / How many
Useful Question Phrases
- Où est... ? – Where is...?
- Où sont... ? – Where are...?
- Comment ça va ? – How are you?
- Combien ça coûte ? – How much does it cost?
- Pourquoi pas ? – Why not?
Où est la gare, s’il vous plaît ?
Where is the train station, please?
Combien ça coûte, ce livre ?
How much does this book cost?
4. Numbers, Days, and Time Basics
Key Numbers (0–10)
- zéro – zero
- un – one
- deux – two
- trois – three
- quatre – four
- cinq – five
- six – six
- sept – seven
- huit – eight
- neuf – nine
- dix – ten
Days of the Week
- lundi – Monday
- mardi – Tuesday
- mercredi – Wednesday
- jeudi – Thursday
- vendredi – Friday
- samedi – Saturday
- dimanche – Sunday
Useful Time Expressions
- aujourd’hui – today
- demain – tomorrow
- hier – yesterday
- maintenant – now
- plus tard – later
Nous partons lundi.
We are leaving on Monday.
Je voudrais réserver pour demain.
I would like to book for tomorrow.
5. Essential Verbs for Beginners
Must-Know Verbs
These verbs appear everywhere. Learn their basic forms first.
- être – to be
- avoir – to have
- aller – to go
- faire – to do / to make
- vouloir – to want
- pouvoir – can / to be able to
- aimer – to like / to love
Very Simple Present-Tense Phrases
- Je suis étudiant. – I am a student. (male)
- Je suis étudiante. – I am a student. (female)
- J’ai un frère. – I have a brother.
- Je vais à l’école. – I go to school.
- Je fais mes devoirs. – I do my homework.
- Je veux un café. – I want a coffee.
- Je peux aider. – I can help.
- J’aime le français. – I like French.
6. Survival Phrases for Travelers
Asking for Help
- Je ne parle pas bien français. – I don’t speak French well.
- Parlez-vous anglais ? – Do you speak English?
- Pouvez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît ? – Can you repeat, please?
- Plus lentement, s’il vous plaît. – More slowly, please.
- Je ne comprends pas. – I don’t understand.
- J’ai besoin d’aide. – I need help.
In Restaurants and Cafés
- Je voudrais... – I would like...
- La carte, s’il vous plaît. – The menu, please.
- L’addition, s’il vous plaît. – The bill, please.
- Un verre d’eau, s’il vous plaît. – A glass of water, please.
- C’est délicieux. – It’s delicious.
Je voudrais un café et un croissant, s’il vous plaît.
I would like a coffee and a croissant, please.
Directions and Transport
- Où est la station de métro ? – Where is the metro station?
- À gauche – To the left
- À droite – To the right
- Tout droit – Straight ahead
- Je veux aller à ... – I want to go to...
C’est loin ?
Is it far?
7. Everyday Objects and Places
Useful Nouns Around You
- la maison – house / home
- l’appartement – apartment
- la chambre – bedroom
- la cuisine – kitchen
- la salle de bain – bathroom
- la rue – street
- le magasin – shop
- le restaurant – restaurant
- l’école – school
- la gare – train station
J’habite dans un appartement près de la gare.
I live in an apartment near the train station.
8. Talking About Yourself: Feelings and Preferences
Basic Feelings
- Je suis fatigué / fatiguée. – I am tired. (male / female)
- Je suis heureux / heureuse. – I am happy. (male / female)
- Je suis triste. – I am sad.
- J’ai faim. – I am hungry.
- J’ai soif. – I am thirsty.
- J’ai chaud. – I am hot.
- J’ai froid. – I am cold.
Likes and Dislikes
- J’aime... – I like...
- Je n’aime pas... – I don’t like...
- J’adore... – I love...
- Je déteste... – I hate...
J’aime la musique, mais je n’aime pas danser.
I like music, but I don’t like dancing.
Je suis fatigué, je veux dormir.
I am tired, I want to sleep.
9. Simple Conversation Builders
Short Useful Expressions
- D’accord. – Okay.
- Bien sûr. – Of course.
- Peut-être. – Maybe.
- Je pense que... – I think that...
- Je suis d’accord. – I agree.
- Je ne suis pas d’accord. – I disagree.
Je pense que c’est une bonne idée.
I think it’s a good idea.
10. How to Practice These Words Effectively
- Create mini-dialogues with greetings, introductions, and questions.
- Label objects in your home with French nouns (for example, la porte – the door).
- Repeat key phrases aloud every day, especially polite expressions and survival phrases.
- Use French in real life: order a coffee, send a short message, or speak with a language partner.
By mastering these essential French vocabulary words and phrases, you build a strong foundation for real conversations. Review them regularly, listen to native speakers, and do not be afraid to make mistakes—each attempt in French brings you closer to fluency.
