The Most Common French Words

When learning French, starting with the most common words provides the fastest path to effective communication. Around 100 frequently used words constitute nearly half of all spoken and written French.

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.

French
English
Example Sentence
Translation
Bonjour
Hello / Good morning (neutral/formal)
Bonjour, Madame Martin.
Hello, Ms. Martin.
Salut
Hi / Hello (informal)
Salut, comment va ta journée?
Hey, how's your day going?
Merci
Thank you
Merci pour ton aide!
Thank you for your help!
Oui
Yes
Oui, j'aimerais bien sortir ce soir.
Yes, I'd like to go out tonight.
Non
No
Non, je n'ai pas le temps.
No, I don't have time.
S'il vous plaît
Please (formal or addressing group)
Un verre d'eau, s'il vous plaît?
A glass of water, please?
S'il te plaît
Please (informal, singular)
Passe-moi le sel, s'il te plaît.
Pass me the salt, please.
Excusez-moi
Excuse me (formal or addressing group)
Excusez-moi, pourriez-vous m'indiquer la sortie?
Excuse me, could you show me the exit?
Excuse-moi
Excuse me (informal, singular)
Excuse-moi, tu aurais une minute?
Excuse me, do you have a minute?
Pardon
Sorry ("oopsie")
Pardon, je ne t'avais pas vu.
Sorry, I didn't see you there.
Désolé
Sorry (masculine; deeply sorry)
Désolé, je n'ai pas compris votre question.
Sorry, I didn't understand your question.
Désolée
Sorry (feminine; deeply sorry)
Désolée, je suis en retard pour le rendez-vous.
Sorry, I'm late for the appointment.
Comment
How
Comment ça fonctionne?
How does this work?
Pourquoi
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?
Quand
When
Quand allons-nous partir?
When are we going to leave?
Qui
Who
Qui a appelé tout à l'heure?
Who called earlier?
Combien
How much / How many
Combien de personnes viennent?
How many people are coming?
Je
I
Je suis médecin.
I am a doctor.
Tu
You (informal, singular)
Tu veux venir au cinéma ce soir?
Do you want to go to the movies tonight?
Vous
You (formal or plural)
Vous désirez autre chose?
Would you like anything else?
Il
He
Il est en vacances.
He's on vacation.
Elle
She
Elle travaille ici.
She works here.
Nous
We
Nous allons au marché.
We're going to the market.
Ils
They (masc. / mixed)
Ils vivent en France.
They live in France.
Elles
They (fem.)
Elles étudient la biologie.
They study biology.
Et
And
J'ai un chat et un chien.
I have a cat and a dog.
Beau
Handsome / Beautiful (masc.)
Ton frère est très beau.
Your brother is very handsome.
Belle
Beautiful (fem.)
Sa sœur est vraiment belle.
His/Her sister is really beautiful.
Nouveau
New (masc.)
J'ai un nouveau portable.
I have a new phone.
Nouvelle
New (fem.)
Elle a une nouvelle idée.
She has a new idea.
Vieux
Old (masc.)
Mon ordinateur est vieux.
My computer is old.
Vieille
Old (fem.)
Cette maison est vieille.
This house is old.
Ou
Or
Chocolat ou vanille?
Chocolate or vanilla?
Très
Very
C'est très intéressant!
That's very interesting!
Bien
Well / Good
Il parle bien anglais.
He speaks English well.
Mal
Badly / Bad
Je chante mal.
I sing badly.
Peut-être
Maybe
Peut-être que je viendrai.
Maybe I'll come.
Toujours
Always
Il est toujours poli.
He's always polite.
Jamais
Never
Je ne regarde jamais la télé.
I never watch TV.
Souvent
Often
Nous visitons souvent cette ville.
We often visit this city.
Parfois
Sometimes
Parfois, je cuisine le soir.
Sometimes, I cook in the evening.
Maintenant
Now
Je dois partir maintenant.
I have to leave now.
Aujourd'hui
Today
Aujourd'hui, il fait très beau.
It's really nice out today.
Demain
Tomorrow
On se voit demain?
See you tomorrow?
Hier
Yesterday
Hier, j'ai beaucoup dormi.
Yesterday, I slept a lot.
Ici
Here
Pose-le ici.
Put it here.
Là-bas
Over there
Les toilettes sont là-bas.
The restrooms are over there.
Plus
More
Je voudrais plus de détails.
I'd like more details.
Moins
Less
Peux-tu parler un peu moins vite?
Could you speak a bit slower?
Beaucoup
A lot
J'aime beaucoup voyager.
I like traveling a lot.
Peu
Little / Few
Il y a peu de temps pour finir.
There's little time to finish.
Trop
Too much
Tu mets trop de sel.
You're putting in too much salt.
Tout
All / Everything
Tout est possible.
Everything is possible.
Rien
Nothing
Je n'ai rien fait aujourd'hui.
I didn't do anything today.
Quelque chose
Something
J'ai besoin de quelque chose de sucré.
I need something sweet.
Quelqu'un
Someone
J'entends quelqu'un dans la pièce.
I hear someone in the room.
Personne
No one
Il n'y a personne ici.
There's no one here.
Ce
This / That (masc.)
Ce film est génial!
This movie is awesome!
Cette
This (fem.)
Cette histoire est vraie.
This story is true.
Ces
These / Those
Ces gens sont sympathiques.
These people are nice.
Mon
My (masc.)
Mon frère habite à Londres.
My brother lives in London.
Ma
My (fem.)
Ma sœur adore le sport.
My sister loves sports.
Mes
My (plural)
Mes amis arrivent demain.
My friends arrive tomorrow.
Ton
Your (masc., informal)
Ton téléphone sonne.
Your phone is ringing.
Ta
Your (fem., informal)
Ta valise est déjà prête?
Is your suitcase ready?
Tes
Your (plural, informal)
Tes parents sont en ville?
Are your parents in town?
Votre
Your (formal singular)
Votre manteau est au vestiaire.
Your coat is in the cloakroom.
Vos
Your (formal plural)
Vos passeports, s'il vous plaît.
Your passports, please.
Leur
Their
Leur chien est très calme.
Their dog is very calm.
Leurs
Their (plural)
Leurs enfants sont adorables.
Their children are adorable.
Avoir
To have
J'ai faim.
I'm hungry.
Être
To be
Nous sommes prêts.
We're ready.
Faire
To do / To make
Que fais-tu ce weekend?
What are you doing this weekend?
Aller
To go
Je vais au musée.
I'm going to the museum.
Venir
To come
Tu viens chez moi ce soir?
Are you coming to my place tonight?
Pouvoir
Can / To be able to
Je peux vous aider si vous voulez.
I can help you if you want.
Vouloir
To want
Je veux apprendre le français.
I want to learn French.
Savoir
To know
Je sais jouer du piano.
I know how to play piano.
Voir
To see
Je veux voir cette exposition.
I want to see that exhibit.
Manger
To eat
Nous allons manger après le film.
We're going to eat after the movie.
Boire
To drink
J'aimerais boire un thé.
I'd like to drink tea.
Parler
To speak
Peux-tu parler plus lentement?
Can you speak more slowly?
Comprendre
To understand
Je ne comprends pas ta question.
I don't understand your question.
Aimer
To like / To love
J'aime la musique classique.
I like classical music.
Donner
To give
Peux-tu me donner un coup de main?
Can you give me a hand?
Prendre
To take
Je vais prendre un café, merci.
I'll take a coffee, thanks.
Trouver
To find
Je ne trouve pas mes clés.
I'm looking for my keys.
Chercher
To look for
Je cherche mes lunettes.
I'm looking for my glasses.
Dire
To say
Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire?
What do you mean?
Penser
To think
Je pense souvent à mes vacances.
I often think about my vacation.
Attendre
To wait
Attendez-moi cinq minutes, s'il vous plaît.
Wait for me five minutes, please.
Acheter
To buy
Je vais acheter du pain frais.
I'm going to buy fresh bread.
Grand
Big / Tall
Il est très grand pour son âge.
He's very tall for his age.
Petit
Small
C'est un petit appartement.
It's a small apartment.
Lire
To read
Je vais lire ce roman ce weekend.
I'm going to read this novel this weekend.
Écrire
To write
Elle aime écrire des poèmes.
She likes to write poems.
Ouvrir
To open
Peux-tu ouvrir la fenêtre?
Can you open the window?
Fermer
To close
Il faut fermer la porte à clé.
We need to lock the door.
Aider
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.

French
English
Example
Translation
D'abord
First (of all)
D'abord, je vais préparer la sauce.
First, I'm going to prepare the sauce.
Ensuite
Next / Then
Ensuite, nous mettrons les légumes au four.
Next, we'll put the vegetables in the oven.
Puis
Then
Puis, il faudra vérifier la cuisson régulièrement.
Then, you'll have to check the cooking regularly.
Enfin
Finally
Enfin, nous pourrons passer à table.
Finally, we can sit down to eat.
Cependant
However
J'ai beaucoup travaillé; cependant, je n'ai pas tout terminé.
I worked a lot; however, I didn't finish everything.
Pourtant
Yet / However
Il fait beau, pourtant il fait frais.
It's sunny, yet it's chilly.
Néanmoins
Nevertheless
Il a perdu le match; néanmoins, il garde le sourire.
He lost the match; nevertheless, he's still smiling.
En revanche
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.
Par contre
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.
De plus
Moreover / In addition
J'adore ce livre; de plus, l'auteur est très sympathique.
I love this book; moreover, the author is very nice.
En outre
Furthermore
En outre, nous aurons besoin d'un budget plus élevé.
Furthermore, we'll need a higher budget.
D'ailleurs
Besides / Moreover
Je ne veux pas sortir; d'ailleurs, il pleut.
I don't want to go out; besides, it's raining.
Par conséquent
Therefore
Il a raté le bus; par conséquent, il est arrivé en retard.
He missed the bus; therefore, he arrived late.
Ainsi
Thus / So
Il a beaucoup étudié; ainsi, il a réussi son examen.
He studied a lot; thus, he passed his exam.
En fait
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.
Effectivement
Indeed
Effectivement, tu avais raison.
Indeed, you were right.
C'est-à-dire
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.
Quand même
Still / Anyway
Il pleut, mais on sort quand même!
It's raining, but we're still going out anyway!
Malgré tout
Despite everything
Malgré tout, elle est restée optimiste.
Despite everything, she remained optimistic.
Sinon
Otherwise / Or else
Travaille plus vite, sinon tu seras en retard.
Work faster, otherwise you'll be late.
En résumé
In summary / To sum up
En résumé, ce projet est très prometteur.
In summary, this project is very promising.
Bref
In short
Bref, il faut s'organiser rapidement.
In short, we have to organize quickly.
Du coup
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.
Finalement
Finally / In the end
Finalement, ils ont décidé de rester à la maison.
In the end, they decided to stay home.
Par ailleurs
Moreover / Otherwise
Par ailleurs, je voulais te demander un conseil.
Moreover, I wanted to ask you for advice.
Toutefois
However
J'ai essayé de l'appeler; toutefois, il n'a pas répondu.
I tried to call him; however, he didn't answer.
Bien que
Although (conjunction)
Bien que fatigué, il a continué à travailler.
Although he was tired, he kept working.
Or
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.
En effet
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.
Autrement dit
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.

French
English
Example
Translation
Et
And
J'ai un chat et un chien.
I have a cat and a dog.
Ou
Or
Tu veux du thé ou du café?
Do you want tea or coffee?
Mais
But
J'aime le chocolat mais pas trop sucré.
I like chocolate but not too sweet.
Car
Because/For
Je suis fatigué car j'ai beaucoup travaillé.
I'm tired because I worked a lot.
Comme
As/Since
Comme il pleut, je reste à la maison.
Since it's raining, I'm staying home.
Parce que
Because
Je l'aime parce qu'il est gentil.
I like him because he's nice.
Puisque
Since
Puisque tu es là, aide-moi.
Since you're here, help me.
Quand
When
Appelle-moi quand tu arrives.
Call me when you arrive.
Si
If
Si tu viens, je serai content.
If you come, I'll be happy.
Que
That
Je pense que tu as raison.
I think that you're right.
Donc
So/Therefore
Il pleut, donc je prends mon parapluie.
It's raining, so I'm taking my umbrella.
Ni
Neither/Nor
Je n'aime ni le café ni le thé.
I like neither coffee nor tea.
Lorsque
When
Lorsque j'étais enfant, j'habitais à la campagne.
When I was a child, I lived in the countryside.
Soit
Either
Soit tu viens maintenant, soit tu restes ici.
Either you come now, or you stay here.
Tandis que
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.

French
English
Example
Translation
La personne
Person
C'est une personne très gentille.
She's a very nice person.
L'eau
Water
Je bois beaucoup d'eau chaque jour.
I drink a lot of water every day.
Le temps
Time
Je n'ai pas le temps de faire ça maintenant.
I don't have time to do that now.
La vie
Life
La vie est belle.
Life is beautiful.
La main
Hand
Donne-moi la main, s'il te plaît.
Give me your hand, please.
La maison
House
J'habite dans une grande maison.
I live in a big house.
Le monde
World
Je veux voyager autour du monde.
I want to travel around the world.
La famille
Family
Ma famille est très importante pour moi.
My family is very important to me.
La tête
Head
J'ai mal à la tête.
I have a headache.
L'amour
Love
L'amour est un sentiment merveilleux.
Love is a wonderful feeling.
La ville
City
Paris est une belle ville.
Paris is a beautiful city.
Le pays
Country
La France est un beau pays.
France is a beautiful country.
Le jour
Day
Bonne journée!
Have a good day!
La nuit
Night
Bonne nuit!
Good night!
L'homme
Man
C'est un homme très gentil.
He's a very nice man.
Le smartphone
Smartphone
Je ne quitte jamais mon smartphone de la journée.
I never put my smartphone down all day.
L'ordinateur
Computer
J'ai installé un nouveau jeu sur l'ordinateur.
I installed a new game on the computer.
L'appli
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
Internet
On peut tout apprendre sur Internet de nos jours.
You can learn everything on the Internet nowadays.
Le réseau social
Social network
Je poste souvent des photos sur ce réseau social.
I often post pictures on this social network.
La voiture
Car
On prend ma voiture ou la tienne?
Shall we take my car or yours?
Le boulot
Work / Job (informal)
J'ai trop de boulot cette semaine, je suis crevé.
I have too much work this week, I'm exhausted.
L'école
School
Mon petit frère rentre de l'école à 16h.
My little brother comes home from school at 4 p.m.
Le téléphone
Telephone / Phone
Ton téléphone a encore sonné, tu devrais vérifier.
Your phone rang again, you should check it.
La musique
Music
J'écoute de la musique dès que je me réveille.
I listen to music as soon as I wake up.
Le film
Movie
On se fait un film chez moi ce soir?
Want to watch a movie at my place tonight?
La série
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.
La télé
TV (television)
Qu'est-ce qu'il y a à la télé ce soir?
What's on TV tonight?
Le message
Message
J'ai lu ton message sur WhatsApp ce matin.
I read your WhatsApp message this morning.
La vidéo
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.

French
English
Example
Present
Past
Future
Avoir
To have
J'ai deux chats.
J'ai (I have)
J'ai eu (I had)
J'aurai (I will have)
Être
To be
Je suis fatigué ce matin.
Je suis (I am)
J'ai été (I was)
Je serai (I will be)
Aller
To go
Je vais au cinéma ce soir.
Je vais (I go)
Je suis allé(e) (I went)
J'irai (I will go)
Faire
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)
Dire
To say / To tell
Je dis toujours la vérité.
Je dis (I say)
J'ai dit (I said)
Je dirai (I will say)
Pouvoir
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)
Vouloir
To want
Je veux des vacances!
Je veux (I want)
J'ai voulu (I wanted)
Je voudrai (I will want)
Savoir
To know
Je sais parler français.
Je sais (I know)
J'ai su (I knew)
Je saurai (I will know)
Voir
To see
Je vois un oiseau rare dans le jardin.
Je vois (I see)
J'ai vu (I saw)
Je verrai (I will see)
Devoir
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)
Prendre
To take
Je prends le métro tous les matins.
Je prends (I take)
J'ai pris (I took)
Je prendrai (I will take)
Mettre
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)
Donner
To give
Je donne un cadeau à mon ami.
Je donne (I give)
J'ai donné (I gave)
Je donnerai (I will give)
Trouver
To find
Je trouve souvent des coquillages sur la plage.
Je trouve (I find)
J'ai trouvé (I found)
Je trouverai (I will find)
Comprendre
To understand
Je comprends bien cette leçon.
Je comprends (I understand)
J'ai compris (I understood)
Je comprendrai (I will understand)
Parler
To speak
Je parle souvent avec mes amis.
Je parle (I speak)
J'ai parlé (I spoke)
Je parlerai (I will speak)
Aimer
To like / To love
J'aime le chocolat.
J'aime (I like / love)
J'ai aimé (I liked / loved)
J'aimerai (I will like / love)
Venir
To come
Je viens chez toi ce soir.
Je viens (I come)
Je suis venu(e) (I came)
Je viendrai (I will come)
Laisser
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)
Passer
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)
Chercher
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)
Jouer
To play
Je joue au foot tous les samedis.
Je joue (I play)
J'ai joué (I played)
Je jouerai (I will play)
Écouter
To listen
J'écoute de la musique en voiture.
J'écoute (I listen)
J'ai écouté (I listened)
J'écouterai (I will listen)
Entendre
To hear
J'entends un bruit étrange dans le couloir.
J'entends (I hear)
J'ai entendu (I heard)
J'entendrai (I will hear)
Manger
To eat
Je mange un sandwich à midi.
Je mange (I eat)
J'ai mangé (I ate)
Je mangerai (I will eat)
Boire
To drink
Je bois un café avant de partir.
Je bois (I drink)
J'ai bu (I drank)
Je boirai (I will drink)
Lire
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)
Écrire
To write
J'écris un email important.
J'écris (I write)
J'ai écrit (I wrote)
J'écrirai (I will write)
Dormir
To sleep
Je dors rarement avant minuit.
Je dors (I sleep)
J'ai dormi (I slept)
Je dormirai (I will sleep)
Sortir
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.

French
English
Masculine Singular
Feminine Singular
Beau
Beautiful / Handsome
beau
belle
Blanc
White
blanc
blanche
Bon
Good
bon
bonne
Calme
Calm
calme
calme
Cher
Expensive / Dear
cher
chère
Doux
Sweet / Soft
doux
douce
Facile
Easy
facile
facile
Fier
Proud
fier
fière
Fort
Strong
fort
forte
Frais
Fresh / Cool
frais
fraîche
Faux
False / Wrong
faux
fausse
Gentil
Kind / Nice
gentil
gentille
Grand
Big / Tall
grand
grande
Heureux
Happy
heureux
heureuse
Jaloux
Jealous
jaloux
jalouse
Jeune
Young
jeune
jeune
Joli
Pretty
joli
jolie
Long
Long
long
longue
Malheureux
Unhappy
malheureux
malheureuse
Mauvais
Bad
mauvais
mauvaise
Méchant
Mean / Nasty
méchant
méchante
Nouveau
New
nouveau
nouvelle
Petit
Small
petit
petite
Roux
Red-haired
roux
rousse
Sec
Dry
sec
sèche
Sérieux
Serious
sérieux
sérieuse
Sympathique
Nice / Friendly
sympathique
sympathique
Vieux
Old
vieux
vieille
Vif
Lively / Bright
vif
vive
Vrai
True
vrai
vraie

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.

Zéro
Zero
Un
One
Deux
Two
Trois
Three
Quatre
Four
Cinq
Five
Six
Six
Sept
Seven
Huit
Eight
Neuf
Nine
Dix
Ten
Onze
Eleven
Douze
Twelve
Treize
Thirteen
Quatorze
Fourteen
Quinze
Fifteen
Seize
Sixteen
Dix-sept
Seventeen
Dix-huit
Eighteen
Dix-neuf
Nineteen
Vingt
Twenty
Vingt et un
Twenty-one
Vingt-deux
Twenty-two
Vingt-trois
Twenty-three
Vingt-quatre
Twenty-four
Vingt-cinq
Twenty-five
Vingt-six
Twenty-six
Vingt-sept
Twenty-seven
Vingt-huit
Twenty-eight
Vingt-neuf
Twenty-nine
Trente
Thirty
Quarante
Forty
Cinquante
Fifty
Soixante
Sixty
Soixante-dix
Seventy
Quatre-vingts
Eighty
Quatre-vingt-dix
Ninety
Cent
Hundred
Mille
Thousand
Dix mille
Ten thousand
Cent mille
Hundred thousand
Un million
Million
Un milliard
Billion
Premier
First
Deuxième
Second
Troisième
Third
Quatrième
Fourth
Cinquième
Fifth
Sixième
Sixth
Septième
Seventh
Huitième
Eighth
Neuvième
Ninth
Dixième
Tenth
Onzième
Eleventh
Douzième
Twelfth
Treizième
Thirteenth

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
Day
Jour de la semaine
Day of the week
Week-end
Weekend
Lundi
Monday
Mardi
Tuesday
Mercredi
Wednesday
Jeudi
Thursday
Vendredi
Friday
Samedi
Saturday
Dimanche
Sunday
Janvier
January
Février
February
Mars
March
Avril
April
Mai
May
Juin
June
Juillet
July
Août
August
Septembre
September
Octobre
October
Novembre
November
Décembre
December
Printemps
Spring
Été
Summer
Automne
Autumn
Hiver
Winter

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.

Couleur
Color
Quelle est sa couleur?
What color is it?
Quelle est ta couleur préférée?
What's your favourite color?
Rouge
Red
Orange
Orange
Jaune
Yellow
Vert
Green
Bleu
Blue
Cyan
Cyan
Violet
Purple
Rose
Pink
Marron
Brown
Noir
Black
Blanc
White
Gris
Grey
Argent
Silver
Or
Gold

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?
Matin
Morning
Midi
Noon
Après-midi
Afternoon
Soir
Evening
Nuit
Night
Minuit
Midnight
Année
Year
Mois
Month
Semaine
Week
Jour
Day
Heure
Hour
Minute
Minute
Seconde
Second
Présent
Present
Maintenant
Now
Aujourd'hui
Today
Ce matin
This morning
Cet après-midi
This afternoon
Ce soir
Tonight
Cette semaine
This week
Ce mois-ci
This month
Cette année
This year
Passé
Past
Hier
Yesterday
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
Futur
Future
Demain
Tomorrow
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

Learn French with AI

Accelerate your French learning journey with an AI language tutor like Kippy. Unlike traditional methods, Kippy offers personalized practice focused specifically on enhancing your French conversation skills and perfecting your pronunciation. Get instant feedback on how you speak, identify areas for improvement, and build confidence through interactive dialogues tailored to your level. Learning French words is important, but practicing speaking them is key to fluency, and Kippy provides a convenient and effective way to do just that.

Kippy goes beyond vocabulary memorization by providing contextual learning experiences that help you understand how words are used in real conversations. The AI adapts to your learning pace, focusing more attention on areas where you need additional practice. With features that analyze your pronunciation patterns and offer specific guidance for improvement, Kippy helps you develop authentic French speaking skills that traditional learning methods often neglect. Experience the benefits of having a patient, always-available language coach that makes learning French engaging, effective, and personalized to your unique needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

icon

How to learn to speak French fast?

  • Practice daily with short, focused sessions
  • Focus on the most common vocabulary first
  • Use AI Language Tutor like Kippy for conversation and pronunciation practice
  • Listen to French music and watch French shows with subtitles
icon

Is French hard or easy to learn?

  • French is relatively accessible for English speakers since about 40% of English vocabulary comes from French
  • The pronunciation can be challenging with nasal sounds and silent letters, but Kippy can help you with that
  • Grammar concepts like gendered nouns and verb conjugations require practice
  • The Foreign Service Institute classifies French as a Category I language, requiring about 575-600 hours to reach proficiency
icon

How long does it take to learn French?

  • Basic conversational skills: 3-6 months of consistent study
  • Intermediate proficiency: 6-12 months of regular practice
  • Advanced fluency: 2-3 years or more
  • Learning speed depends on your native language, prior language learning experience, study intensity, and immersion opportunities
icon

How many words do I need for a basic conversation in French?

  • About 250-500 words for very basic travel needs and simple interactions
  • Around 1,000-1,500 words to handle most everyday situations
  • 2,000-3,000 words will cover approximately 80% of common French conversations
  • Focusing on high-frequency words first provides the best return on your learning effort
icon

How to interpret pronunciation feedback

  • Accuracy: How closely the spoken words match the expected pronunciation. This includes correct sounds, stress, and articulation.
  • Completeness: Whether all expected words or sounds were spoken. It checks if anything was skipped or omitted.
  • Fluency: The smoothness and flow of speech - how naturally the person speaks without excessive pauses, hesitations, or repetitions.
  • Prosody: The rhythm, intonation, and stress patterns in speech. It reflects how well the speaker uses natural pitch and emphasis.

‍Real-Life Conversations
With AI Language Tutor

Download on app store