Common French Phrases

Whether you're planning your first trip to a French-speaking country or you just want to improve your speaking skills, these common phrases are essential to keep the conversation going.

Affirmatives and Agreements

en effet: indeed, that's right
pas de problème: no problem
tant mieux: it's just as well, even better
tout à fait: absolutely, exactly
bien entendu: of course, obviously
bien sûr: of course
ça marche: ok, that works

ça m'est égal: it's all the same to me

Courtesies and Salutations

à la vôtre !: cheers!
à tes souhaits: bless you
Bon anniversaire !: Happy birthday!
Bon appétit !: Enjoy your meal!
ça va (?): how's it going?, I'm fine
de rien: you're welcome
grâce à: thanks to
si ce n'est pas indiscret: if it's not too personal a question
si tu veux: if you will
tiens: here you go, there you are

Causality, Comparison, and Condition

à cause de: because of, due to
à la fois: at the same time
au fur et à mesure: as, while
au lieu de: instead of, rather than
avoir l'air (de): to look (like)
du coup: as a result
à la limite: at most, in a pinch
à la rigueur: or even, if need be
à peine: hardly
au cas où: just in case
au fait: by the way
vis-à-vis (de): facing, in relation to

Debate and Discussion

à mon avis: in my opinion
ah bon (?): oh really? I see
au contraire: on the contrary
d'ailleurs: moreover, might I add
a priori: at first glance, in principle

en fait: in fact
entendre dire que: to hear (it said) that
entendre parler de: to hear (someone talk) about
par contre: whereas, on the other hand
par exemple: for example, such as; oh my, well really!
revenons à nos moutons: let's get back to the subject at hand

Duration and Time

à peu près: about, approximately, nearly

du jour au lendemain: overnight
en retard: late
entre chien et loup: at dusk, twilight
faire le pont: to make it a long weekend
tout à l'heure: in a moment, a moment ago
tout à coup: all of a sudden
tout de suite: right away, immediately

Exclamations and Expressions

allons-y!: let's go!
à la française: in the French style or manner
à la une: front page news
ça alors: how about that, my goodness
c'est-à-dire: that is, i.e., I mean
c'est parti: here we go, and we're off
ce n'est pas grave: it doesn't matter, no problem
dis donc / dites donc: wow, by the way
enfin: well, I mean
et j'en passe: and that's not all
et patati et patata: and so on and so forth
fais gaffe: watch out, be careful
fais voir: let me see
figure-toi: guess what, get this
'fin: well, I mean
il y a quelque chose qui cloche: something's amiss
J'arrive !: I'm on my way!
je t'aime: I love you
on ne sait jamais: you never know
Vive la France !: Long live France!
plus ça change...: the more things change...
métro, boulot, dodo: the rat race
tu connais la musique: you know the routine
tu m'étonnes: tell me something I don't know
du loup: speak of the devil
voilà: there is, that's it

Negatives and Disagreements

ça ne fait rien: never mind, it doesn't matter

c'est pas vrai !: no way!
J'en peux plus: I can't take (it) anymore
Je n'en reviens pas: I can't believe it
Je n'y peux rien: There's nothing I can do about it.
Je n'y suis pour rien: It's got nothing to do with me
n'importe quoi: whatever
oh là là: oh dear, oh no

pas du tout: not at all
pas terrible: not that great, nothing special
rien à voir: nothing to do with

tant pis: oh well, too bad, tough

tu connais la musique: you know the routine
tu m'étonnes: tell me something I don't know

Quantity/Amount

de trop: too much / many
du tout: not/none at all
il y a: there is, there are

Questions

n'est-ce pas ?: right? isn't that so?
On y va ?: Shall we go? Ready?
tu te rends compte ?: can you imagine?

Common French Phrases