What do you say in French? 27 phrases you want to have at the ready
Does this sound familiar? You think you can manage in a foreign language, but when it comes to conversation, nothing comes out. After the conversation, all the phrases and expressions you could have used go round and round in your head. Frustrating!
What can help is to have a number of phrases in your head for different situations. Once you've made a start and you do indeed have sufficient knowledge of the language, the chances are much higher that the rest of the conversation will flow.
Especially for anyone who has contact with French speakers, we have listed 27 of these phrases below. The phrases for greeting and ending a conversation are also useful if you have limited knowledge of French and speak English for most of the conversation. Making the effort to speak French is already a great first step!
Greetings in French
At Regina Coeli, we often say that a good conversation starts with a good opening. Come across as friendly and interested with these phrases:
- Bonjour, je suis ... . — Good morning, I am ... .
- Enchanté(e) de faire votre connaissance. — Pleased to meet you.
- Comment allez-vous ? — How are you?
- Très bien, merci. Et vous ? — Very well, thank you. And you?
- Je suis ravi(e) d’être ici. — I'm happy to be here.
Starting a business conversation in French
A polite opening to a conversation or meeting is appreciated. You could use these phrases, for example:
- Merci de nous recevoir. — Thank you for receiving us.
- Je voudrais commencer par… — I would like to start with…
- Si vous le permettez, j’aimerais présenter notre projet. — If you don't mind, I would like to present our project.
- Pourriez-vous nous en dire un peu plus sur… ? — Could you tell us a little more about…?
- Je crois que nous partageons les mêmes objectifs. — I think we have the same goals.
Discussing and negotiating in French
Holding a discussion, exchanging points of view, exploring different ideas. It's almost second nature in French culture. These phrases can help you do just that:
- Nous devons trouver un terrain d’entente. — We need to find common ground.
- C’est une proposition intéressante. — That's an interesting proposal.
- Je comprends votre point de vue. — I understand your point of view.
- Nous devons en discuter en interne. — We need to discuss this internally.
- Pourrions-nous envisager une alternative ? — Could we consider an alternative?
Making appointments in French
You can use these standard phrases when you want to make an appointment.
- Quand seriez-vous disponible ? — When would you be available?
- Je vous enverrai une confirmation par e-mail. — I will send you a confirmation by e-mail.
- Nous pourrions nous rencontrer la semaine prochaine. — We could meet next week.
- À quelle heure cela vous conviendrait-il ? — What time would suit you?
Ending an email
In English, it is acceptable to send short emails without a formal ending. Make sure you end a French email politely.
- Je vous prie de bien vouloir trouver ci-joint… — Please find attached...
- Merci pour votre retour rapide — Thank you for your prompt reply.
- Je reste à votre disposition pour toute information complémentaire. — I remain at your disposal for any further information.
- Dans l’attente de votre réponse, je vous prie d’agréer, Madame, Monsieur, mes salutations distinguées. — Awaiting your reply, kind regards.
Saying goodbye in French
It's not just first impressions that count; you can also score points at the end with a few friendly phrases in French.
- Merci pour votre temps et votre accueil. — Thank you for your time and your hospitality.
- Ce fut un plaisir d’échanger avec vous. — It was a pleasure to talk with you.
- À bientôt, j’espère. — See you soon, I hope.
- Bonne journée / Bonne soirée. — Have a nice day / Have a nice evening.
Tips for successful French conversations
Even if your French is grammatically correct, if you don't connect with the culture, your message might not come across well.
Often, an indirect message works better.
For example, say ‘Je comprends, mais notre budget est un peu limité.’ Instead of: ‘C’est trop cher.’
Address people with “vous”.
Always use “vous” in business situations. You can read more about this in our blog about “vous” and “tu”.
Use “petite conversation”
Do not get to the point too quickly. French people expect a bit of small talk. Read more about petite conversation in this blog.
Check a “oui”
Sometimes a “oui” is more a matter of politeness than agreement. Check carefully: ‘Donc, si je comprends bien, vous êtes d'accord sur ce point?’
Do you need more than just a reminder?
It is useful to have a few French phrases at your fingertips. But do you understand the answers? Can you respond to a question? And how can you hold your own in an environment where everyone speaks French? If you are in regular contact with French speakers, it is worth learning French. The fastest way to do this is at Regina Coeli. In our individual training courses, we teach you exactly what you need to know, rather than what is in the textbooks.
Read more about a French course at Regina Coeli
Read more about the French language and culture
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Writing a proper email in French
If your job involves being in touch with French speakers, odds are you will need to write emails at one point or another—in French: courrier électronique, message électronique or simply mail, It is, after all, a great way to send a message quickly. Other advantages to writing emails include being able to find the right words and think about the grammar, and being able to check your message again before sending it. Use the tips and standard sentences below to make it that much easier!