If you are moving to France—or simply spending several weeks or months here—you don’t need to speak perfect French to communicate effectively.
But knowing a few expressions that French people actually use in everyday situations can make a big difference.
These 50 expressions will help you greet people, shop, order food, ask for help, deal with everyday situations, and navigate life in France with more confidence.
Tip: Don’t worry about perfect grammar at first. Learning a few complete expressions is often much more useful than memorizing isolated vocabulary.
1. Bonjour — Hello / Good morning
Bonjour !
This is probably the most important French word to learn.
Use bonjour when entering a shop, bakery, office, doctor’s office, hotel, or other place where you will interact with someone.
In France, greeting someone before asking a question is considered basic politeness.
Example:
Bonjour, madame. Je voudrais un renseignement, s’il vous plaît.
Hello, ma’am. I would like some information, please.
2. Bonsoir — Good evening
Bonsoir !
Use bonsoir later in the day, generally from the late afternoon/evening onward.
It is also used when entering a restaurant, shop, or other establishment in the evening.
3. Au revoir — Goodbye
Au revoir !
Use this when leaving a shop, restaurant, office, appointment, or other interaction.
A simple bonjour when you arrive and au revoir when you leave will immediately make your interactions feel more natural.
4. Merci — Thank you
Merci.
Simple and essential.
You can also say:
Merci beaucoup. — Thank you very much.
5. S’il vous plaît — Please
S’il vous plaît.
Use this with people you don’t know, professionals, older people, or in formal situations.
For example:
Un café, s’il vous plaît.
A coffee, please.
6. Excusez-moi — Excuse me
Excusez-moi.
Use this when:
- getting someone’s attention
- asking a stranger a question
- passing through a crowded area
- interrupting someone politely
Example:
Excusez-moi, où est la gare ?
Excuse me, where is the train station?
7. Pardon — Sorry / Excuse me
Pardon.
A shorter, very common expression.
You can use it if you accidentally bump into someone or didn’t hear what they said.
Pardon, vous pouvez répéter ?
Sorry, could you repeat that?
8. Ça va ? — How are you? / Is everything okay?
Ça va ?
This is one of the most common informal expressions in French.
Depending on context, it can mean:
- How are you?
- Are you okay?
- Is everything all right?
A common answer is:
Ça va, merci.
I’m fine, thank you.
9. Comment allez-vous ? — How are you?
Comment allez-vous ?
This is the more formal version.
Use it with someone you don’t know well, particularly in professional or formal situations.
10. Je voudrais… — I would like…
Je voudrais…
This is extremely useful.
It is a polite way to ask for something.
Je voudrais un café, s’il vous plaît.
I would like a coffee, please.
Je voudrais prendre rendez-vous.
I would like to make an appointment.
Shopping and Everyday Transactions
11. Combien ça coûte ? — How much does it cost?
Combien ça coûte ?
A useful expression in shops, markets, and other everyday situations.
You can also ask:
C’est combien ?
How much is it?
The second version is more informal.
12. Je peux payer par carte ? — Can I pay by card?
Je peux payer par carte ?
Very useful in France.
You may also hear:
Par carte ?
The person at the checkout may simply ask whether you are paying by card.
13. Vous prenez la carte ? — Do you accept cards?
Vous prenez la carte ?
This is another common way of asking whether card payment is accepted.
14. Vous avez de la monnaie ? — Do you have change?
Vous avez de la monnaie ?
Useful when paying with cash.
Monnaie can refer to coins/change depending on context.
15. Je cherche… — I’m looking for…
Je cherche…
A very useful phrase when shopping or asking for directions.
Je cherche du pain.
I’m looking for bread.
Je cherche la pharmacie.
I’m looking for the pharmacy.
16. Vous avez… ? — Do you have…?
Vous avez… ?
Use this when asking whether a shop has a particular product.
Vous avez du lait sans lactose ?
Do you have lactose-free milk?
17. C’est tout, merci. — That’s all, thank you.
C’est tout, merci.
Useful at a bakery, market, butcher, deli counter, or supermarket.
For example:
Deux croissants et une baguette, s’il vous plaît.
C’est tout ?
Oui, c’est tout, merci.
18. Je vais prendre… — I’ll have / I’ll take…
Je vais prendre…
Very natural when ordering something.
Je vais prendre le menu du jour.
I’ll have the daily special.
19. L’addition, s’il vous plaît. — The bill, please.
L’addition, s’il vous plaît.
Use this in a restaurant when you are ready to pay.
20. Je peux avoir… ? — Can I have…?
Je peux avoir… ?
A very useful informal way of requesting something.
Je peux avoir un verre d’eau, s’il vous plaît ?
Can I have a glass of water, please?
Restaurants and Cafés
21. Une table pour deux, s’il vous plaît. — A table for two, please.
Une table pour deux, s’il vous plaît.
Change deux to the appropriate number.
Une table pour quatre, s’il vous plaît.
A table for four, please.
22. La carte, s’il vous plaît. — The menu, please.
La carte, s’il vous plaît.
In France, la carte generally means the restaurant menu.
Don’t be surprised if someone asks:
Vous avez choisi ?
Have you decided?
23. Qu’est-ce que vous recommandez ? — What do you recommend?
Qu’est-ce que vous recommandez ?
A useful question when you don’t know what to order.
You can also say:
Qu’est-ce que vous conseillez ?
What do you recommend?
24. C’est quoi ? — What’s that?
C’est quoi ?
Informal but extremely common.
If you don’t know what something on the menu means:
Excusez-moi, c’est quoi, le… ?
Excuse me, what is the…?
For a more formal version:
Qu’est-ce que c’est ?
What is it?
25. Sans… — Without…
Sans…
Very useful for ordering food.
Sans oignons, s’il vous plaît.
Without onions, please.
Un café sans sucre.
A coffee without sugar.
26. Avec… — With…
Avec…
The opposite of sans.
Avec du lait, s’il vous plaît.
With milk, please.
27. Je suis allergique à… — I’m allergic to…
Je suis allergique à…
An important expression if you have a food allergy.
Je suis allergique aux noix.
I’m allergic to nuts.
If the allergy is serious, make sure you communicate it clearly and don’t rely only on a short phrase.
Getting Around France
28. Où est… ? — Where is…?
Où est… ?
One of the most useful questions you can learn.
Où est la gare ?
Where is the train station?
Où sont les toilettes ?
Where are the toilets?
29. Comment aller à… ? — How do I get to…?
Comment aller à la gare ?
How do I get to the train station?
You can replace la gare with almost any destination.
30. C’est loin ? — Is it far?
C’est loin ?
Very useful when someone gives you directions.
C’est loin à pied ?
Is it far on foot?
31. C’est près d’ici ? — Is it near here?
C’est près d’ici ?
A simple way to find out whether you can walk somewhere.
32. À gauche — To the left
À gauche.
Tournez à gauche.
Turn left.
33. À droite — To the right
À droite.
Tournez à droite.
Turn right.
34. Tout droit — Straight ahead
Tout droit.
Allez tout droit.
Go straight ahead.
35. Je suis perdu(e). — I’m lost.
Je suis perdu. — male speaker
Je suis perdue. — female speaker
Then:
Excusez-moi, je suis perdue. Vous pouvez m’aider ?
Excuse me, I’m lost. Can you help me?
Understanding French People
36. Je ne comprends pas. — I don’t understand.
Je ne comprends pas.
Don’t be afraid to say this.
It is much better than pretending you understood something important.
37. Vous pouvez répéter ? — Can you repeat?
Vous pouvez répéter, s’il vous plaît ?
A very useful expression when someone speaks too quickly.
38. Vous pouvez parler plus lentement ? — Can you speak more slowly?
Vous pouvez parler plus lentement, s’il vous plaît ?
This is especially useful when you are still learning French.
39. Qu’est-ce que ça veut dire ? — What does that mean?
Qu’est-ce que ça veut dire ?
Use this when you hear or see a word or expression you don’t understand.
40. Comment dit-on… en français ? — How do you say… in French?
Comment dit-on “…” en français ?
This is one of the best expressions for improving your French through everyday conversation.
For example:
Comment dit-on “appointment” en français ?
How do you say “appointment” in French?
Answer:
Rendez-vous.
Everyday Problems and Practical Situations
41. J’ai un problème. — I have a problem.
J’ai un problème.
Useful when something goes wrong.
Excusez-moi, j’ai un problème avec ma réservation.
Excuse me, I have a problem with my reservation.
42. Je ne sais pas. — I don’t know.
Je ne sais pas.
Simple but useful.
You can also say:
Je ne suis pas sûr(e).
I’m not sure.
43. Ce n’est pas possible. — That’s not possible.
Ce n’est pas possible.
You will hear this expression frequently in everyday life.
Depending on tone and context, it can mean that something isn’t possible, isn’t available, or can’t be done.
44. Il y a un problème. — There’s a problem.
Il y a un problème.
Useful when reporting an issue.
Il y a un problème avec la chaudière.
There’s a problem with the heating system/boiler.
45. J’ai rendez-vous. — I have an appointment.
J’ai rendez-vous.
This is particularly useful for:
- doctors
- dentists
- administrative appointments
- banks
- government offices
- professional meetings
Bonjour, j’ai rendez-vous à 10 heures.
Hello, I have an appointment at 10 o’clock.
Phone, Administration and Formal Situations
46. Je voudrais prendre rendez-vous. — I would like to make an appointment.
Je voudrais prendre rendez-vous.
This is an essential phrase for life in France.
Bonjour, je voudrais prendre rendez-vous avec le médecin.
Hello, I would like to make an appointment with the doctor.
47. Quels documents faut-il ? — What documents are required?
Quels documents faut-il ?
Extremely useful when dealing with French administration.
You can also ask:
Quels documents dois-je apporter ?
Which documents do I need to bring?
48. Où dois-je signer ? — Where do I sign?
Où dois-je signer ?
A practical expression for paperwork, contracts, forms, banks, property transactions, and administrative procedures.
49. Vous pouvez m’envoyer un e-mail ? — Can you send me an email?
Vous pouvez m’envoyer un e-mail, s’il vous plaît ?
Useful when you need written confirmation of information.
For example:
Vous pouvez m’envoyer la confirmation par e-mail ?
Can you send me the confirmation by email?
50. Merci pour votre aide. — Thank you for your help.
Merci pour votre aide.
A warm and polite way to finish an interaction.
Merci beaucoup pour votre aide.
Thank you very much for your help.
Bonus: 10 Expressions Worth Learning Next
Once you are comfortable with these 50 expressions, here are ten more that will make your French sound increasingly natural:
- Pas de problème. — No problem.
- Bien sûr. — Of course.
- D’accord. — Okay / Agreed.
- Ça marche. — Okay / That works.
- Je suis désolé(e). — I’m sorry.
- Avec plaisir. — My pleasure.
- À bientôt ! — See you soon!
- À tout à l’heure ! — See you later!
- Bonne journée ! — Have a good day!
- Bonne soirée ! — Have a good evening!
One Important Rule for Life in France
If you remember only one thing from this list, remember this:
Say Bonjour before asking for something.
For example, instead of walking into a bakery and saying:
Une baguette, s’il vous plaît.
Try:
Bonjour ! Une baguette, s’il vous plaît.
And when you leave:
Merci, au revoir ! Bonne journée !
This small habit can make everyday interactions much more pleasant.
Don’t Try to Learn All 50 at Once
Start with these ten:
Bonjour
Au revoir
Merci
S’il vous plaît
Excusez-moi
Je voudrais…
Où est… ?
Je ne comprends pas.
Vous pouvez répéter ?
Merci pour votre aide.
Then add expressions according to your everyday needs.
If you are moving to France, for example, focus first on shopping, appointments, transportation and administration.
If you are visiting France, focus on restaurants, hotels, transportation and asking for directions.
The goal isn’t to memorize French.
The goal is to be able to use French when you need it.
Want to Go Beyond the Basics?
Learning isolated expressions is a good start. The next step is learning how to use them naturally in real situations.
On French-Tutor.net, you can work on practical French designed around your specific needs—whether you are preparing to travel to France, move to France, communicate with French people, deal with everyday administration, or prepare for a French residency or naturalization process.
Learn French for the life you actually want to live in France.