Common expressions in French : complete course

What Are Common French Expressions?

Common French expressions are short, everyday phrases that French speakers use naturally in conversation. They help you sound more fluent and confident, even as a beginner. Learning these expressions is one of the fastest ways to start communicating in French.

Think of them as the building blocks of real-life French. They are not just grammar rules — they are the living language that people actually speak every day.

Simple Examples to Get Started

Before we dive deeper, here are a few expressions you might already know:

• Bonjour — Hello / Good morning
• Merci — Thank you
• S’il vous plaît — Please (formal)
• Excusez-moi — Excuse me
• Je ne comprends pas — I don’t understand

These simple phrases can help you navigate many everyday situations in a French-speaking country.

Key Elements of Common French Expressions

Common French expressions cover several important areas of communication. Let’s look at the main ones.

Greetings and Farewells

Greetings are the first thing you need in any conversation. French has different greetings depending on the time of day and the level of formality.

• Bonjour — used in the morning and during the day
• Bonsoir — used in the evening
• Salut — informal greeting, like ‘Hi’ in English
• Au revoir — Goodbye
• À bientôt — See you soon

Example in context: You walk into a bakery in Paris. You say: ‘Bonjour, un croissant s’il vous plaît.’ (Hello, one croissant please.)

Polite Phrases and Courtesy

Being polite is very important in French culture. These expressions show respect and good manners.

• Merci beaucoup — Thank you very much
• De rien — You’re welcome
• Pardon — Sorry / Excuse me
• Je vous en prie — You’re welcome (formal)

Example: Someone holds the door for you. You say: ‘Merci!’ They reply: ‘De rien!’

Asking for Help and Clarification

When you are learning French, you will often need to ask for help. These expressions are very useful.

• Pouvez-vous répéter? — Can you repeat?
• Vous parlez anglais? — Do you speak English?
• Où est…? — Where is…?
• C’est combien? — How much is it?

Example: You are lost in Lyon. You ask: ‘Excusez-moi, où est la gare?’ (Excuse me, where is the train station?)

Why Common French Expressions Matter

Learning grammar rules is important, but knowing common expressions helps you communicate right away. Here is why they are so valuable:

• They help you start real conversations quickly.
• They make you sound more natural and less like a textbook.
• They give you confidence to speak, even with a small vocabulary.
• Native speakers appreciate when you use local expressions.

Even if your French is not perfect, using the right expression at the right moment creates a connection with the person you are speaking to. That is the real power of language.

Comparison With Other Languages

It is helpful to compare French expressions with Spanish and English. You will notice both similarities and differences.

Notice that French and Spanish share some logic — both have formal and informal versions of ‘you’ (vous/tu in French, usted/tú in Spanish). English does not make this distinction, which can be a new concept for English speakers learning French.

A Complete Example

Let’s put several expressions together in a short, realistic dialogue. Imagine you are at a café in Bordeaux.

• You: Bonjour! Un café, s’il vous plaît. (Hello! A coffee, please.)
• Waiter: Bien sûr. Vous désirez autre chose? (Of course. Would you like anything else?)
• You: Non merci, c’est tout. (No thank you, that’s all.)
• Waiter: C’est deux euros, s’il vous plaît. (That’s two euros, please.)
• You: Merci beaucoup! (Thank you very much!)
• Waiter: De rien. Bonne journée! (You’re welcome. Have a good day!)

As you can see, a simple interaction like ordering a coffee uses many common expressions. With just a few phrases, you can handle this situation with confidence.

Key Takeaways

• Common French expressions are the foundation of everyday communication.
• Start with greetings, polite phrases, and simple questions.
• Practice these expressions in real-life situations as much as possible.
• Comparing French with English and Spanish helps you understand the logic faster.
• Do not wait until your French is ‘perfect’ — start using expressions now!

The best way to learn is to practice. Try using one new expression each day. Small steps lead to big progress. Bonne chance! (Good luck!)

Sources

• Conseil de l’Europe. (2001). Cadre européen commun de référence pour les langues (CECRL). Council of Europe Publishing. Available at: coe.int
• Bescherelle. (2012). Le Bescherelle de la langue française. Hatier. A widely recognized French language reference used in French education.
• TV5Monde. Apprendre le français — Ressources pédagogiques. Available at: apprendre.tv5monde.com