Conversational French Phrases to Survive in France

Learning conversational French is your ticket to actually connecting with French people instead of just pointing at menus and hoping for the best. Whether you're planning a trip to Paris or dreaming of chatting with locals over coffee, basic French conversation opens doors that guidebooks simply can't.

Conversational French Phrases to Survive in France

From greeting the neighborhood baker to asking for directions without getting lost in translation, these basic conversational French phrases will give you the survival skills to navigate real conversations with native speakers.

Beginning French conversation with key phrases

Beginning French conversation becomes simple when you master the basic greetings French people expect. These conversation starters in French transform how locals respond to you : suddenly, that Parisian shopkeeper isn’t so intimidating after all.

Basic French greetings

Skipping basic greetings when beginning French conversation is a bit like forgetting to knock before entering : it doesn’t go unnoticed. Use “Bonjour” from morning to late afternoon, then switch to “Bonsoir” in the evening to show you understand French greeting conversation etiquette. When the waiter shows you to your table, adding a “Merci beaucoup” shows you’re making the effort to connect.

French
Bonjour
English
Hello
Example Sentences
Bonjour, comment vas-tu?
Translation
Hello, how are you?
French
Bonsoir
English
Good evening
Example Sentences
Bonsoir, tu as passé une bonne journée?
Translation
Good evening, did you have a good day?
French
Bonne matinée
English
Good morning
Example Sentences
Bonne matinée! Il fait beau aujourd'hui
Translation
Good morning! It's beautiful weather today.
French
Bonne soirée
English
Good evening
Example Sentences
Bonne soirée! On se voit demain.
Translation
Good evening! See you tomorrow.
French
Bonne nuit
English
Good night
Example Sentences
Bonne nuit! A demain.
Translation
Good night! See you tomorrow.
French
Comment allez-vous?
English
How are you?
Example Sentences
Comment allez-vous aujourd'hui?
Translation
How are you today?
French
Je vais bien
English
I'm well
Example Sentences
Je vais bien, et toi?
Translation
I'm doing well, and you?
French
Rencontrer
English
To meet
Example Sentences
Ravi de vous rencontrer!
Translation
Delighted to meet you!

Conversational phrases for self-introduction

Once you’ve nailed the greeting basics, the next step is introducing yourself without stumbling over your words. These basic French conversation phrases for introductions are refreshingly simple : no complex grammar, just a few key conversational French phrases that actually work in real situations.

French
Nom
English
Name
Example Sentences
Quel est votre nom?
Translation
What is your name?
French
Je m'appelle
English
My name
Example Sentences
Je m'appelle Pierre.
Translation
My name is Pierre.
French
Rencontrer
English
To meet
Example Sentences
Ravi de vous rencontrer!
Translation
Delighted to meet you!
French
Également
English
Also
Example Sentences
Ravi de te rencontrer également.
Translation
Nice to meet you too.
French
Ans
English
Years old
Example Sentences
J'ai 30 ans.
Translation
I'm 30 years old.
French
Américain
English
American (male)
Example Sentences
Je suis Américain.
Translation
I'm American.
French
Américaine
English
American (female)
Example Sentences
Je suis Américaine.
Translation
I'm American.
French
Habiter
English
To live
Example Sentences
J'habite au Etats-Unis
Translation
I live in United States.
French
Apprendre
English
To learn
Example Sentences
J'apprends le français.
Translation
I'm learning French.
French
Première fois
English
First time
Example Sentences
C'est la première fois que je viens en France.
Translation
This is my first time coming to France.
French
Ne pas parler bien
English
Not speak well
Example Sentences
Je ne parle pas très bien français.
Translation
I don't speak French very well.

The phrase “Je ne parle pas très bien français” works wonders in any conversation in French. This honest approach usually earns you patience, slower speech, and often some helpful English when things get complicated.

When you share your nationality with “Je suis Américain,” expect follow-up questions about your country or travel experiences. French people enjoy good conversations, and your background naturally opens doors to longer exchanges.

Common French courtesy phrases

The formal and informal distinction in conversational French can make or break your interactions. Unlike English where “please” is always “please,” French has different versions depending on who you’re talking to. Get this wrong with the wrong person, and you might come across as either too familiar or unnecessarily distant.

French
S'il vous plaît
English
Please (formal)
Example Sentences
Un café, s'il vous plaît.
Translation
A coffee, please.
French
S'il te plaît
English
Please (informal)
Example Sentences
Tu peux m'aider, s'il te plaît?
Translation
Can you help me, please?
French
Merci
English
Thank you
Example Sentences
Merci pour ton aide.
Translation
Thank you for your help.
French
Merci beaucoup
English
Thank you very much
Example Sentences
Merci beaucoup pour le conseil.
Translation
Thank you very much for the advice.
French
Je vous en prie
English
You're welcome (formal)
Example Sentences
Je vous en prie, c'est normal.
Translation
You're welcome, it's normal.
French
De rien
English
You're welcome (casual)
Example Sentences
De rien, pas de problème!
Translation
You're welcome, no problem!
French
Il n'y a pas de quoi
English
Don't mention it
Example Sentences
Il n'y a pas de quoi, vraiment.
Translation
Don't mention it, really.
French
Excusez-moi
English
Excuse me (formal)
Example Sentences
Excusez-moi, oĂą sont les toilettes?
Translation
Excuse me, where are the restrooms?
French
Excuse-moi
English
Excuse me (informal)
Example Sentences
Excuse-moi, tu as l'heure?
Translation
Excuse me, do you have the time?
French
Je suis désolé
English
I'm sorry
Example Sentences
Je suis désolé pour le retard.
Translation
I'm sorry for being late.
French
Pardon
English
Pardon (formal)
Example Sentences
Pardon, je n'ai pas entendu.
Translation
Pardon, I didn't hear.

The “vous” form in basic French formal conversation maintains appropriate distance with strangers, older people, professionals, and anyone in a service position like waiters or shopkeepers.

The “tu” form signals familiarity and is reserved for friends, family, children, and people roughly your age in casual settings. French people will often suggest switching to “tu” by saying “On peut se tutoyer” if they want a more relaxed interaction.

Ending French conversations naturally

Ending conversations gracefully separates confident speakers from hesitant learners in French daily conversation. The secret isn’t just knowing the words : it’s understanding the timing and context that makes your exit feel natural.

French
Au revoir
English
Goodbye
Example Sentences
Au revoir, merci pour tout.
Translation
Goodbye, thank you for everything.
French
Ă€ tout Ă  l'heure
English
See you later (same day)
Example Sentences
Ă€ tout Ă  l'heure, vers 18h.
Translation
See you later, around 6 PM.
French
Ă€ plus tard
English
See you later
Example Sentences
À plus tard, bon après-midi!
Translation
See you later, have a good afternoon.
French
Ă€ bientĂ´t
English
See you soon
Example Sentences
À bientôt, j'espère!
Translation
See you soon, I hope!
French
Ă€ demain
English
See you tomorrow
Example Sentences
Ă€ demain matin au bureau.
Translation
See you tomorrow morning at the office.
French
Bonne journée
English
Have a good day
Example Sentences
Bonne journée à vous aussi.
Translation
Have a good day to you too.
French
Bonne soirée
English
Have a good evening
Example Sentences
Bonne soirée, amusez-vous bien!
Translation
Have a good evening, have fun!

Gradual conversation endings work much better than sudden departures in French culture. Start signaling your intent to leave with “Bon…” (Well…) followed by a reason like “Je dois y aller” (I have to go). This gives the other person time to wrap up their thoughts. In common conversation in French, adding “Allez” before your goodbye creates a smooth transition that sounds natural.

Bon, je dois y aller.
Allez, Ă  la prochaine.

Use “À tout à l’heure” only when you’ll genuinely see the person again the same day. “À bientôt” works when you’re not sure when you’ll meet again but hope it’s soon. “Bonne journée” is perfect for ending conversations with service workers or acquaintances, while “Au revoir” remains your safe, universal option for any situation.

Conversational French for Tourists

Must-know phrases for hotel reception

Smart travelers know that the right French phrases at hotel reception can secure room upgrades, local recommendations, and help avoid extra charges. Understanding hotel conversation in French can make all the difference in your stay experience.

French
Réservation
English
Reservation
Example Sentences
J'ai une réservation.
Translation
I have a reservation.
French
Quitter l'hĂ´tel
English
Check out
Example Sentences
Ă€ quelle heure dois-je quitter l'hĂ´tel?
Translation
What time do I need to check out?
French
Mot de passe
English
Password
Example Sentences
Quel est le mot de passe Wi-Fi?
Translation
What is the Wi-Fi password?
French
Petit Déjeuner
English
Breakfast
Example Sentences
À quelle heure est servi le petit déjeuner?
Translation
What time is breakfast served?
French
Bagages
English
Luggage
Example Sentences
Puis-je laisser mes bagages ici?
Translation
Can I leave my luggage here?
French
Clé
English
Key
Example Sentences
J'ai perdu la clé de ma chambre.
Translation
I lost my room key.
French
Serviettes
English
Towels
Example Sentences
Pouvez-vous remplacer les serviettes, s'il vous plaît?
Translation
Can you replace the towels, please?
French
Chambre
English
Room
Example Sentences
Puis-je avoir une chambre différente, s'il vous plaît?
Translation
Can I have a different room, please?

When you learn conversational French for travel, timing and phrasing work together to create better outcomes. At check-in, lead with “Bonjour” followed immediately by “J’ai une réservation au nom de…” for a smooth conversation starter.

Always ask “À quelle heure est servi le petit déjeuner?” (What time is breakfast served?) followed by “Le petit déjeuner est-il inclus?” (Is breakfast included?). Since French hotels often charge separately for breakfast, asking upfront prevents surprise charges and shows you’re an informed traveler.

À quelle heure est servi le petit déjeuner?
Le petit déjeuner est-il inclus?

Check in exactly at 3 PM rather than earlier, then immediately ask “Le wifi fonctionne-t-il bien dans toutes les chambres?” (Does wifi work well in all rooms?). This question signals you’re an experienced traveler, and staff often proactively assign you rooms with stronger signals.

Learn the phrase “Puis-je…” (May I…) for any hotel request. “Puis-je laisser mes bagages ici?” (May I leave my luggage here?) works perfectly for post-checkout exploration, while “Puis-je avoir une chambre plus calme?” (May I have a quieter room?) addresses noise concerns diplomatically. This respectful construction consistently gets better results than direct demands.

Puis-je avoir une chambre plus calme?

French conversation at restaurant: ordering food, cafe,…

Ordering food at a restaurant in french often creates anxiety when you’re under pressure to communicate clearly with impatient staff. Learning the basic ordering rules and key phrases reduces this stress completely, important when dining out is such a central part of any French experience.

French
Table
English
Table
Example Sentences
Une table pour trois, s'il vous plaît.
Translation
A table for three, please.
French
Réserver
English
To reserve
Example Sentences
Je souhaiterais réserver pour 4 personnes.
Translation
I would like to make a reservation for 4 people.
French
Menu
English
Menu
Example Sentences
Puis-je consulter le menu?
Translation
Can I see the English menu?
French
Recommander
English
Recommend
Example Sentences
Que recommandez-vous?
Translation
What do you recommend?
French
Cappuccino
English
Cappuccino
Example Sentences
Je voudrais un cappuccino, s'il vous plaît.
Translation
I would like a cappuccino, please.
French
Eau
English
Water
Example Sentences
Puis-je avoir un verre d'eau, s'il vous plaît?
Translation
Can I have a glass of water, please?
French
Végétarien
English
Vegetarian
Example Sentences
Y a-t-il une option végétarienne au menu?
Translation
Is there a vegetarian option on the menu?
French
Carte de crédit
English
Credit card
Example Sentences
Puis-je payer par carte de crédit?
Translation
Can I pay by credit card?
French
A emporter
English
Take away
Example Sentences
Est-il possible d'emporter ce plat?
Translation
Can I take this dish to go?
French
Addition
English
Bill
Example Sentences
Puis-je avoir l'addition, s'il vous plaît?
Translation
Can I have the bill, please?
French
Délicieux
English
Delicious
Example Sentences
C'était délicieux!
Translation
It was delicious!
French
Alcool
English
Alcohol
Example Sentences
Cette boisson contient-elle de l'alcool?
Translation
Does this drink contain alcohol?

For conversation in restaurant in french settings, timing is everything. Call between 10-11 AM or 3-5 PM with “Je souhaiterais réserver une table pour [number] personnes” (I’d like to reserve a table for [number] people). Avoid calling during lunch (12-14h) or dinner service (19:30-21:30) when staff are overwhelmed.

Upon arrival, wait to be seated rather than choosing your own table. When the server approaches, say “Bonjour, nous avons une réservation au nom de…” (Hello, we have a reservation under the name…).

Bonjour, nous avons une réservation au nom de John.

To order politely in French, ask “Qu’est-ce que vous me conseillez aujourd’hui?” (What do you recommend today?) instead of the generic “Que recommandez-vous?” This phrasing suggests you want today’s special preparations, often getting you the freshest ingredients and chef’s attention.

Qu’est-ce que vous me conseillez aujourd’hui?

For French cafe conversation, specify “pour emporter” (to go) or “sur place” (to eat here) immediately when ordering. Cafe staff need this information to choose the right dishware and set expectations.

Casual French Conversation

If you want to sound more natural when speaking French, it’s helpful to learn the conversational French phrases that native speakers actually use in daily life. Don’t just focus on formal phrases, mastering french informal conversation can make a big difference.

Casual French Greetings

French
Salut
English
Hey
Example Sentences
Salut, comment ça va?
Translation
Hey, how are you?
French
ça va
English
I'm okay
Example Sentences
Oui, ça va bien, merci.
Translation
Yes, I'm okay, thanks.
French
Comme ci, comme ça
English
So-so
Example Sentences
C'est comme ci, comme ça ces temps-ci.
Translation
It's so-so, these days.
French
La forme
English
Great shape
Example Sentences
Je suis en pleine forme!
Translation
I'm in great shape/feeling great!
French
Ă  plus tard
English
See you later
Example Sentences
Ă€ plus tard, Ă  demain!
Translation
See you later, see you tomorrow!

Save casual expressions for appropriate contexts: use “Salut” as your casual hello in French with peers your age, but stick to “Bonjour” with older locals or in professional settings.

Pay attention to how locals greet each other before jumping into slang. In trendy neighborhoods like Le Marais or student areas around the Sorbonne, younger French speakers are more receptive to casual expressions.

Beyond basic greetings, use french informal conversation openers strategically. In cafés, try “Il est comment, le wifi ici?” (How’s the wifi here?) followed by casual expressions if the person responds warmly. At markets, “C’est local?” (Is this local?) often leads to longer conversations where slang feels natural.

Il est comment, le wifi ici?
C’est local?
French
Slayy
English
Killing it
Example Sentences
Tu slay avec cet outfit!
Translation
You're killing it with that outfit!
French
J'ai le seum
English
Upset
Example Sentences
J'ai tellement le seum d'avoir raté le concert.
Translation
I'm so upset I missed the concert.
French
La base
English
Basic/Obvious
Example Sentences
Respecter les autres, c'est la base.
Translation
Respecting others is basic courtesy.
French
Le boug
English
That guy
Example Sentences
T'as vu le boug avec la veste rouge?
Translation
Did you see that guy with the red jacket?
French
Askip
English
Apparently
Example Sentences
Askip, il y aura une surprise Ă  la fĂŞte.
Translation
Apparently, there will be a surprise at the party.
French
C'est une dinguerie
English
Amazing
Example Sentences
C'est une dinguerie cette chanson!
Translation
This is song is absolutely amazing!
French
Ça passe crème
English
Smoothly
Example Sentences
L'entretien s'est passé crème.
Translation
The interview went smoothly.

When engaging in french informal conversation with younger locals, dropping the right slang can change the whole vibe of the conversation. Start conservatively with “ça va” responses, then escalate to slang if they use it first. French people often mirror your communication style, so let them guide the formality level.

For example: Compliment a dish or drink with “C’est une dinguerie!” (This is crazy good!) Agree with someone casually using “La base” (Of course / That’s a given)

These conversational french phrases can lighten the mood and open the door to new friendships, but only when used at the right moment with the right people.

How to practice conversational French

Use the right memorization method

When learning Conversational French, you’ll encounter phrases that are particularly useful or memorable, expressions you know you’ll need to use repeatedly. Instead of letting these phrases get lost in your notes, Kippy’s Phrase Book allows you to save and organize them instantly.

Whether you discover an important phrase during a lesson or hear something useful in conversation, you can save it immediately. This creates your personal collection of go-to French expressions, available whenever you need them for Basic French Conversation situations.

The benefit of this system is that it adapts to your learning style. Some phrases you’ll want to review regularly until they become automatic. Others you might just need quick access to during specific situations. Kippy’s flexible approach works for both preferences.

Improve Your Pronunciation

French pronunciation takes practice, especially sounds like the French “R” or “U” that don’t exist in English. Getting familiar with how French actually sounds is an important part of your learning process.

Watching French movies or listening to music helps expose you to natural speech patterns, but you’ll see faster improvement when you can focus specifically on pronunciation with the native audio recordings in the Kippy app. These recordings let you hear words and phrases clearly, without background music or fast dialogue that might make it harder to catch the details.

Kippy’s French Pronunciation Checker takes this practice a step further by listening to how you speak and showing you exactly what needs work. You get immediate feedback on your pronunciation to improve specific sounds and develop stronger French listening and speaking abilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

›

How many hours of French do you need to be conversational?

After 600 hours, you’ll be conversational for most daily situations: ordering food at restaurants, asking for directions, and discussing familiar topics. But reaching true proficiency, where you effortlessly understand movies, catch cultural references, and keep up with fast native speech, takes much longer and requires real immersion.

How you spend those hours makes all the difference. 600 hours of regular conversation practice with native speakers will get you much further than 600 hours buried in textbooks. The quality and variety of your practice beats pure study time every time.

›

How can I memorize french speaking fast?

  • Focus on high-impact vocabulary: Learn the 20% of French words that appear in 80% of conversations. Quality beats quantity for speed.
  • Perfect before adding: Instead of learning hundreds of new phrases, practice your existing vocabulary until it flows effortlessly.
  • Create home immersion: Label household items in French, cook with French recipes, or switch your phone to French. This builds muscle memory by connecting French words directly to real objects and actions.

This method works because it mirrors how children learn their first language : through repetition, context, and constant exposure rather than formal memorization.

›

How to order politely in French?

For casual restaurants, natives commonly use “Je vais prendre [item], s’il vous plaît” (I’m going to take [item], please). You can even simply say “[item], s’il vous plaît” once the conversation is established.

For more formal dining, upgrade your language with “Je voudrais [item], s’il vous plaît” (I would like [item], please) or “J’aimerais [item], s’il vous plaît” (I would like [item], please). The phrase “Est-ce que je pourrais avoir [item], s’il vous plaît?” (Could I have [item], please?) also works well in any setting.

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