The Most Common Words in French with Meaning
Understanding the most frequent French words is the cornerstone of effective communication. These foundational words appear constantly in everyday speech and text, allowing learners to grasp the core meaning of sentences and build confidence quickly. Mastering this essential vocabulary accelerates the French learning process significantly, helping you understand approximately 50% of typical French conversations.
Hello / Good morning (neutral/formal)
Hello, Ms. Martin.
Hi / Hello (informal)
Salut, comment va ta journée?
Hey, how's your day going?
Thank you
Thank you for your help!
Yes
Oui, j'aimerais bien sortir ce soir.
Yes, I'd like to go out tonight.
No
Non, je n'ai pas le temps.
No, I don't have time.
Please (formal or addressing group)
Un verre d'eau, s'il vous plaît?
A glass of water, please?
Please (informal, singular)
Passe-moi le sel, s'il te plaît.
Pass me the salt, please.
Excuse me (formal or addressing group)
Excusez-moi, pourriez-vous m'indiquer la sortie?
Excuse me, could you show me the exit?
Excuse me (informal, singular)
Excuse-moi, tu aurais une minute?
Excuse me, do you have a minute?
Sorry ("oopsie")
Pardon, je ne t'avais pas vu.
Sorry, I didn't see you there.
Sorry (masculine; deeply sorry)
Désolé, je n'ai pas compris votre question.
Sorry, I didn't understand your question.
Sorry (feminine; deeply sorry)
Désolée, je suis en retard pour le rendez-vous.
Sorry, I'm late for the appointment.
Why
Pourquoi est-il parti si tôt?
Why did he leave so early?
Where
Où se trouve la station de métro?
Where is the subway station?
When
Quand allons-nous partir?
When are we going to leave?
Who
Qui a appelé tout à l'heure?
Who called earlier?
How much / How many
Combien de personnes viennent?
How many people are coming?
You (informal, singular)
Tu veux venir au cinéma ce soir?
Do you want to go to the movies tonight?
You (formal or plural)
Vous désirez autre chose?
Would you like anything else?
We
We're going to the market.
They (masc. / mixed)
They live in France.
They (fem.)
Elles étudient la biologie.
They study biology.
And
J'ai un chat et un chien.
I have a cat and a dog.
Handsome / Beautiful (masc.)
Your brother is very handsome.
Beautiful (fem.)
Sa sœur est vraiment belle.
His/Her sister is really beautiful.
New (masc.)
J'ai un nouveau portable.
I have a new phone.
New (fem.)
Elle a une nouvelle idée.
She has a new idea.
Old (masc.)
Mon ordinateur est vieux.
My computer is old.
Old (fem.)
Cette maison est vieille.
This house is old.
Very
That's very interesting!
Well / Good
He speaks English well.
Maybe
Peut-être que je viendrai.
Maybe I'll come.
Always
He's always polite.
Never
Je ne regarde jamais la télé.
I never watch TV.
Often
Nous visitons souvent cette ville.
We often visit this city.
Sometimes
Parfois, je cuisine le soir.
Sometimes, I cook in the evening.
Now
Je dois partir maintenant.
I have to leave now.
Today
Aujourd'hui, il fait très beau.
It's really nice out today.
Tomorrow
See you tomorrow?
Yesterday
Hier, j'ai beaucoup dormi.
Yesterday, I slept a lot.
Over there
Les toilettes sont là-bas.
The restrooms are over there.
More
Je voudrais plus de détails.
I'd like more details.
Less
Peux-tu parler un peu moins vite?
Could you speak a bit slower?
A lot
I like traveling a lot.
Little / Few
Il y a peu de temps pour finir.
There's little time to finish.
Too much
You're putting in too much salt.
All / Everything
Everything is possible.
Nothing
Je n'ai rien fait aujourd'hui.
I didn't do anything today.
Something
J'ai besoin de quelque chose de sucré.
I need something sweet.
Someone
J'entends quelqu'un dans la pièce.
I hear someone in the room.
No one
There's no one here.
This / That (masc.)
This movie is awesome!
This (fem.)
Cette histoire est vraie.
This story is true.
These / Those
Ces gens sont sympathiques.
These people are nice.
My (masc.)
Mon frère habite à Londres.
My brother lives in London.
My (fem.)
My sister loves sports.
My (plural)
Mes amis arrivent demain.
My friends arrive tomorrow.
Your (masc., informal)
Your phone is ringing.
Your (fem., informal)
Ta valise est déjà prête?
Is your suitcase ready?
Your (plural, informal)
Tes parents sont en ville?
Are your parents in town?
Your (formal singular)
Votre manteau est au vestiaire.
Your coat is in the cloakroom.
Your (formal plural)
Vos passeports, s'il vous plaît.
Your passports, please.
Their
Leur chien est très calme.
Their dog is very calm.
Their (plural)
Leurs enfants sont adorables.
Their children are adorable.
To do / To make
What are you doing this weekend?
To go
I'm going to the museum.
To come
Tu viens chez moi ce soir?
Are you coming to my place tonight?
Can / To be able to
Je peux vous aider si vous voulez.
I can help you if you want.
To want
Je veux apprendre le français.
I want to learn French.
To know
I know how to play piano.
To see
Je veux voir cette exposition.
I want to see that exhibit.
To eat
Nous allons manger après le film.
We're going to eat after the movie.
To drink
I'd like to drink tea.
To speak
Peux-tu parler plus lentement?
Can you speak more slowly?
To understand
Je ne comprends pas ta question.
I don't understand your question.
To like / To love
J'aime la musique classique.
I like classical music.
To give
Peux-tu me donner un coup de main?
Can you give me a hand?
To take
Je vais prendre un café, merci.
I'll take a coffee, thanks.
To find
Je ne trouve pas mes clés.
I'm looking for my keys.
To look for
I'm looking for my glasses.
To say
Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire?
What do you mean?
To think
Je pense souvent à mes vacances.
I often think about my vacation.
To wait
Attendez-moi cinq minutes, s'il vous plaît.
Wait for me five minutes, please.
To buy
Je vais acheter du pain frais.
I'm going to buy fresh bread.
Big / Tall
Il est très grand pour son âge.
He's very tall for his age.
Small
C'est un petit appartement.
It's a small apartment.
To read
Je vais lire ce roman ce weekend.
I'm going to read this novel this weekend.
To write
Elle aime écrire des poèmes.
She likes to write poems.
To open
Peux-tu ouvrir la fenêtre?
Can you open the window?
To close
Il faut fermer la porte à clé.
We need to lock the door.
To help
Je vais t'aider à faire la vaisselle.
I'll help you do the dishes.
French Transition Words & Conjunctions
Transition words and conjunctions are the glue that holds the French language together, allowing speakers to create complex, flowing sentences. Learning these connecting words is crucial for moving beyond basic phrases to more sophisticated French expression. They help you organize your thoughts, create logical connections between ideas, and make your French sound more natural and coherent.
Transition Words in French
Transition words help connect ideas and create flow in your speech and writing. Master these essential French transition words to make your French sound more natural and sophisticated. Proficiency with these terms elevates your language skills from beginner to intermediate level, enabling you to express complex relationships between ideas.
First (of all)
D'abord, je vais préparer la sauce.
First, I'm going to prepare the sauce.
Next / Then
Ensuite, nous mettrons les légumes au four.
Next, we'll put the vegetables in the oven.
Then
Puis, il faudra vérifier la cuisson régulièrement.
Then, you'll have to check the cooking regularly.
Finally
Enfin, nous pourrons passer à table.
Finally, we can sit down to eat.
However
J'ai beaucoup travaillé; cependant, je n'ai pas tout terminé.
I worked a lot; however, I didn't finish everything.
Yet / However
Il fait beau, pourtant il fait frais.
It's sunny, yet it's chilly.
Nevertheless
Il a perdu le match; néanmoins, il garde le sourire.
He lost the match; nevertheless, he's still smiling.
On the other hand
Ce restaurant est petit; en revanche, la cuisine est excellente.
This restaurant is small; on the other hand, the food is excellent.
On the other hand
J'aime la plage; par contre, je déteste les foules.
I like the beach; on the other hand, I hate crowds.
Moreover / In addition
J'adore ce livre; de plus, l'auteur est très sympathique.
I love this book; moreover, the author is very nice.
Furthermore
En outre, nous aurons besoin d'un budget plus élevé.
Furthermore, we'll need a higher budget.
Besides / Moreover
Je ne veux pas sortir; d'ailleurs, il pleut.
I don't want to go out; besides, it's raining.
Therefore
Il a raté le bus; par conséquent, il est arrivé en retard.
He missed the bus; therefore, he arrived late.
Thus / So
Il a beaucoup étudié; ainsi, il a réussi son examen.
He studied a lot; thus, he passed his exam.
In fact
Je pensais que c'était difficile; en fait, c'était plutôt facile.
I thought it was hard; in fact, it was pretty easy.
Indeed
Effectivement, tu avais raison.
Indeed, you were right.
That is to say
Je dois partir tôt, c'est-à-dire avant 18h.
I have to leave early, that is to say before 6 p.m.
Still / Anyway
Il pleut, mais on sort quand même!
It's raining, but we're still going out anyway!
Despite everything
Malgré tout, elle est restée optimiste.
Despite everything, she remained optimistic.
Otherwise / Or else
Travaille plus vite, sinon tu seras en retard.
Work faster, otherwise you'll be late.
In summary / To sum up
En résumé, ce projet est très prometteur.
In summary, this project is very promising.
In short
Bref, il faut s'organiser rapidement.
In short, we have to organize quickly.
So / Hence (informal)
Je n'ai pas de voiture; du coup, je prends le train.
I don't have a car; so, I take the train.
Finally / In the end
Finalement, ils ont décidé de rester à la maison.
In the end, they decided to stay home.
Moreover / Otherwise
Par ailleurs, je voulais te demander un conseil.
Moreover, I wanted to ask you for advice.
However
J'ai essayé de l'appeler; toutefois, il n'a pas répondu.
I tried to call him; however, he didn't answer.
Although (conjunction)
Bien que fatigué, il a continué à travailler.
Although he was tired, he kept working.
Now / But (formal link)
J'avais prévu de sortir; or, il a commencé à neiger.
I was planning to go out; now, it started to snow.
Indeed / In fact
En effet, le succès de ce livre s'explique par son originalité.
Indeed, the success of this book is due to its originality.
In other words
Je n'ai pas d'argent liquide, autrement dit, je ne peux pas payer en espèces.
I don't have cash; in other words, I can't pay in cash.
French Conjunctions
Conjunctions are essential connectors that join words, phrases, or clauses together. In French, mastering these small but powerful words allows you to create more complex and sophisticated sentences. Understanding when and how to use conjunctions correctly will significantly enhance your French fluency and help you express relationships between different ideas with precision.
And
J'ai un chat et un chien.
I have a cat and a dog.
Or
Tu veux du thé ou du café?
Do you want tea or coffee?
But
J'aime le chocolat mais pas trop sucré.
I like chocolate but not too sweet.
Because/For
Je suis fatigué car j'ai beaucoup travaillé.
I'm tired because I worked a lot.
As/Since
Comme il pleut, je reste à la maison.
Since it's raining, I'm staying home.
Because
Je l'aime parce qu'il est gentil.
I like him because he's nice.
Since
Puisque tu es là, aide-moi.
Since you're here, help me.
When
Appelle-moi quand tu arrives.
Call me when you arrive.
If
Si tu viens, je serai content.
If you come, I'll be happy.
That
Je pense que tu as raison.
I think that you're right.
So/Therefore
Il pleut, donc je prends mon parapluie.
It's raining, so I'm taking my umbrella.
Neither/Nor
Je n'aime ni le café ni le thé.
I like neither coffee nor tea.
When
Lorsque j'étais enfant, j'habitais à la campagne.
When I was a child, I lived in the countryside.
Either
Soit tu viens maintenant, soit tu restes ici.
Either you come now, or you stay here.
While/Whereas
Elle travaille tandis que lui se repose.
She works while he rests.
French Nouns, Verbs and Adjectives
Nouns, verbs, and adjectives form the backbone of the French language. These word categories are essential for constructing meaningful sentences and expressing yourself clearly. By studying the most common words in each category, you'll quickly develop the vocabulary needed for everyday communication and gain confidence in your French language skills.
The Most Common French Nouns
Nouns are the building blocks of any language, naming the people, places, things, and ideas we discuss. Learning the most common French nouns provides an essential foundation for communication. These frequently used words will help you describe your surroundings, express your needs, and engage in meaningful conversations about everyday topics.
Person
C'est une personne très gentille.
She's a very nice person.
Water
Je bois beaucoup d'eau chaque jour.
I drink a lot of water every day.
Time
Je n'ai pas le temps de faire ça maintenant.
I don't have time to do that now.
Hand
Donne-moi la main, s'il te plaît.
Give me your hand, please.
House
J'habite dans une grande maison.
I live in a big house.
World
Je veux voyager autour du monde.
I want to travel around the world.
Family
Ma famille est très importante pour moi.
My family is very important to me.
Love
L'amour est un sentiment merveilleux.
Love is a wonderful feeling.
City
Paris est une belle ville.
Paris is a beautiful city.
Country
La France est un beau pays.
France is a beautiful country.
Man
C'est un homme très gentil.
He's a very nice man.
Smartphone
Je ne quitte jamais mon smartphone de la journée.
I never put my smartphone down all day.
Computer
J'ai installé un nouveau jeu sur l'ordinateur.
I installed a new game on the computer.
App (application)
Cette appli de météo est très pratique pour planifier le week-end.
This weather app is very handy for planning the weekend.
Internet
On peut tout apprendre sur Internet de nos jours.
You can learn everything on the Internet nowadays.
Social network
Je poste souvent des photos sur ce réseau social.
I often post pictures on this social network.
Car
On prend ma voiture ou la tienne?
Shall we take my car or yours?
Work / Job (informal)
J'ai trop de boulot cette semaine, je suis crevé.
I have too much work this week, I'm exhausted.
School
Mon petit frère rentre de l'école à 16h.
My little brother comes home from school at 4 p.m.
Telephone / Phone
Ton téléphone a encore sonné, tu devrais vérifier.
Your phone rang again, you should check it.
Music
J'écoute de la musique dès que je me réveille.
I listen to music as soon as I wake up.
Movie
On se fait un film chez moi ce soir?
Want to watch a movie at my place tonight?
Series / TV show
Cette série est tellement addictive que j'ai tout regardé d'un coup.
This series is so addictive that I binge-watched it all.
TV (television)
Qu'est-ce qu'il y a à la télé ce soir?
What's on TV tonight?
Message
J'ai lu ton message sur WhatsApp ce matin.
I read your WhatsApp message this morning.
Video
J'ai posté une nouvelle vidéo sur ma chaîne YouTube.
I uploaded a new video on my YouTube channel.
The Most Common French Verbs
Verbs express actions, states, and occurrences, making them crucial for constructing sentences in French. Mastering common French verbs is key to communicating effectively, as they allow you to describe what people do, feel, and experience. These essential verbs appear frequently in everyday conversation and will significantly expand your ability to express yourself in various contexts.
To have
J'ai (I have)
J'ai eu (I had)
J'aurai (I will have)
To be
Je suis fatigué ce matin.
Je suis (I am)
J'ai été (I was)
Je serai (I will be)
To go
Je vais au cinéma ce soir.
Je vais (I go)
Je suis allé(e) (I went)
J'irai (I will go)
To do / To make
Je fais un gâteau pour l'anniversaire de mon ami.
Je fais (I do / make)
J'ai fait (I did / made)
Je ferai (I will do / make)
To say / To tell
Je dis toujours la vérité.
Je dis (I say)
J'ai dit (I said)
Je dirai (I will say)
Can / To be able to
Je peux conduire une moto.
Je peux (I can)
J'ai pu (I could / was able to)
Je pourrai (I will be able to)
To want
Je veux (I want)
J'ai voulu (I wanted)
Je voudrai (I will want)
To know
Je sais (I know)
J'ai su (I knew)
Je saurai (I will know)
To see
Je vois un oiseau rare dans le jardin.
Je vois (I see)
J'ai vu (I saw)
Je verrai (I will see)
Must / Have to
Je dois finir mon travail.
Je dois (I must / have to)
J'ai dû (I had to)
Je devrai (I will have to)
To take
Je prends le métro tous les matins.
Je prends (I take)
J'ai pris (I took)
Je prendrai (I will take)
To put
Je mets la table avant le dîner.
Je mets (I put)
J'ai mis (I put / I placed)
Je mettrai (I will put)
To give
Je donne un cadeau à mon ami.
Je donne (I give)
J'ai donné (I gave)
Je donnerai (I will give)
To find
Je trouve souvent des coquillages sur la plage.
Je trouve (I find)
J'ai trouvé (I found)
Je trouverai (I will find)
To understand
Je comprends bien cette leçon.
Je comprends (I understand)
J'ai compris (I understood)
Je comprendrai (I will understand)
To speak
Je parle souvent avec mes amis.
Je parle (I speak)
J'ai parlé (I spoke)
Je parlerai (I will speak)
To like / To love
J'aime (I like / love)
J'ai aimé (I liked / loved)
J'aimerai (I will like / love)
To come
Je viens chez toi ce soir.
Je viens (I come)
Je suis venu(e) (I came)
Je viendrai (I will come)
To leave / To let
Je laisse mes clés sur la table.
Je laisse (I leave / let)
J'ai laissé (I left / let)
Je laisserai (I will leave / let)
To pass / Spend time
Je passe la journée chez ma sœur.
Je passe (I spend / pass)
J'ai passé (I spent / passed)
Je passerai (I will spend / pass)
To look for
Je cherche mes clés depuis ce matin.
Je cherche (I look for)
J'ai cherché (I looked for)
Je chercherai (I will look for)
To play
Je joue au foot tous les samedis.
Je joue (I play)
J'ai joué (I played)
Je jouerai (I will play)
To listen
J'écoute de la musique en voiture.
J'écoute (I listen)
J'ai écouté (I listened)
J'écouterai (I will listen)
To hear
J'entends un bruit étrange dans le couloir.
J'entends (I hear)
J'ai entendu (I heard)
J'entendrai (I will hear)
To eat
Je mange un sandwich à midi.
Je mange (I eat)
J'ai mangé (I ate)
Je mangerai (I will eat)
To drink
Je bois un café avant de partir.
Je bois (I drink)
J'ai bu (I drank)
Je boirai (I will drink)
To read
Je lis un roman passionnant en ce moment.
Je lis (I read)
J'ai lu (I read / I have read)
Je lirai (I will read)
To write
J'écris un email important.
J'écris (I write)
J'ai écrit (I wrote)
J'écrirai (I will write)
To sleep
Je dors rarement avant minuit.
Je dors (I sleep)
J'ai dormi (I slept)
Je dormirai (I will sleep)
To go out
Je sors avec des amis ce soir.
Je sors (I go out)
Je suis sorti(e) (I went out)
Je sortirai (I will go out)
The Most Common French Adjectives
Adjectives bring color and detail to your French, allowing you to describe people, places, and things with precision. Understanding how adjectives change form to match the gender and number of the nouns they modify is a key aspect of French grammar. These common adjectives will enhance your descriptive abilities and help you express opinions and impressions more vividly.
Beautiful / Handsome
beau
belle
Expensive / Dear
cher
chère
Kind / Nice
gentil
gentille
Unhappy
malheureux
malheureuse
Mean / Nasty
méchant
méchante
Nice / Friendly
sympathique
sympathique
French Numbers and Ordinals
Numbers are fundamental to everyday communication in French, whether you're shopping, telling time, or discussing dates. Learning the French numerical system, including both cardinal (1, 2, 3) and ordinal (1st, 2nd, 3rd) numbers, is essential for practical situations like making purchases, understanding addresses, or following directions. Mastering this vocabulary will help you navigate daily life in French-speaking environments with confidence.
Cent mille
Hundred thousand
French Calendar & Time Vocabulary
Calendar and time vocabulary is essential for scheduling, making plans, and discussing events in French. Understanding days of the week, months, and seasons allows you to navigate daily life, make appointments, and talk about important dates. This practical vocabulary is among the first you'll need when visiting a French-speaking country or communicating with French speakers, making it a priority for language learners of all levels.
Jour de la semaine
Day of the week
French Words for Colors
Colors are essential vocabulary for describing the world around you in French. Learning color terms allows you to give detailed descriptions of objects, express preferences, and understand visual information. These words are commonly used in shopping, art discussions, and everyday conversations, making them valuable for practical communication in various contexts. Mastering color vocabulary adds vividness to your French expression.
Quelle est sa couleur?
What color is it?
Quelle est ta couleur préférée?
What's your favourite color?
French Time Expressions
Time expressions are crucial for structuring narratives, making plans, and discussing schedules in French. Being able to refer to the past, present, and future with precision helps you tell stories, arrange meetings, and communicate about events. These phrases appear frequently in both casual conversations and formal communications, making them essential vocabulary for effective interaction in French-speaking environments.
Quelle heure est-il?
What time is it?
À quelle heure?
At what time?
Cet après-midi
This afternoon
Hier matin
Yesterday morning
Hier après-midi
Yesterday afternoon
Hier soir
Yesterday evening
Avant-hier
Day before yesterday
La nuit dernière
Last night
La semaine dernière
Last week
Le mois dernier
Last month
L'année dernière
Last year
Demain matin
Tomorrow morning
Demain après-midi
Tomorrow afternoon
Demain soir
Tomorrow evening
Après-demain
Day after tomorrow
La semaine prochaine
Next week
Le mois prochain
Next month
L'année prochaine
Next year
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